KENTUCKY REPORT

are afraid of getting burned, as they were in '81, when false hopes were raised after

THE REVIVAL in construction gives I everyone from loggers to refrigerator dealers something to cheer about. The upturn in housing is breathing new life into dozens of off-shoot industries that have suffered with us through the years of declining business.

Lumber mills, wallboard, glass, carpets and home appliancer dealers are a few of those whose cash registers are beginning to ring again. This pickup is not only helping the retail lumber dealers, it is providing a spillover to other manufacturers.

The three strongest items in our line right now are wallboard, insulation and roofing. Some mills in the West are operating at 970/o of normal, a fast improvement over 65s/o a year ago. Although many firms will profit from this housing activity, it does not mean a return to work for all idle employees. Many companies have cut back and are sticking to it because they have learned to operate on a leaner scale. Most of them say their businesses are more efficient than they were before.

For all these industries, the big worry is whether interest rates will go up again and jeopardize the housing recovery. Many

Bulldlng Products Dlgest

will join the corporation to work with Collins S. Lorimer, founder of Lorimer and Associates, and Lumber Yard and Store Update in the perpetuation of the various services.

Lorimer and Associates was organized in 195 in response to a request by the Midwest Lumbermen's Council for professional couns€l in the complete area of analysis, planning and design of facilities for lumber and building material opcrations, homecenters and buildingcenters. Since that time, Lorimer and Associates have worked with lumber and building material merchants throughout the United States and recently with lumber dealers in Alaska.

In addition to the planning, design and consulting services, Nationd Lumbermen's Service Corporation will provide dealers with Interlake storage rack systems ar national account pricing, as well as Handy Store Fixtures, safety ladders, lumber carts, and many other items germane to the store and yard.

a brief pickup in business. However, most finns have faith that their business will continue to climb through the next yeil as the economy improves. A hoPe that rates might drift lower is not as strong as it was because they seem to be bottoming out at such a high level. Housing then will not rebound much more than it already has, and spending will remain depressed. Frankly, the moneymarket is almost signaling the end of any further rate decline.