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started to regain its health. We see an increasingly bright outlook for the structural panel market in 1984 and over the next five years.

APA's market research and economic services div. believes that under the best circumstances, with an easing ofshort-term interest rates and subsequent moderation of mortgage rates, there could be enough housing activity to generate starts at the 1.7 million plus level in 1984.

However, the association believes that even if interest rates are less favorable and housing starts are at a lower level, the 1984 election year influence has the potential to help the industry surpass 1983's strong performance. Our estimates for total U.S. structural panel demand are for ?fi.2 or 20.3 billion square feet in 1983 and about 21.9 billion feet in 1984.

In 1982, new housing consumed 3090 of total structural panel production. This year it will be closer to 4090. Of the remaining 6090 , the largest segment is home repair and remodeling. This market has been a savior for our industry during some very tough times. And we fully expect home-

Story at a Glance

Possible 1.7 million housing starts in'84. . .structural panel use in '83 20.3 billion sq. ft., next year, 21.9 billion ft.... housing will use about 40% .8o/o-10o/o increase in repair and remodeling.

owner activities to continue to accelerate during the recovery.

People are starting to move to new jobs and buy used houses that are prime candidates for "personalization through remodeling." Others are retrofitting for energy conservation. We should see an 8-1090 increase in homeowner activity next year from a very strong base this year.

We continue to be excited about the future prospects for the PerformanceRated Panel program. With it, the industry can continue to expand its product base, despite an ever diminishing and increasingly costly timber supply. New panel layups, thicknesses and species, plus the cost+ffective technologies for waferboard and oriented strand board will provide dealers with a continued full line of structural panels at a competitive price.

An educational job is ahead of us. Dealer salespeople needto know what to specify, how to read and use Span Ratings, where to go for detailed information and what applications are appropriate for these products. APA is geared to provide this education.

New literature and advertising are being made available. Field men will conduct meetings and training sessions to support this program.

Our enthusiasm for the future is based on the expanding market horizons we see. As the American Plywood Association looks to the future, dealers will continue to be critical to the success of the structural panel industry.