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You demand quality. You get it with Osmose' Wood Products from MG Building Materials. Ask us about the highest quality, most durable, clean and safe wood products on today's market.

From our convenient San Antonio location, we can ship Osmose Wood Products all over Texas. On short notice, we'll select your order from our large inventory and have it rolling ro you... quickly and efficiently.

TAJOR I{EWS AND FEATURES

BusinessForecastSpeciallssue

WarehouseRetailers Must SharpenUp Act ToWin

Creativity Can Capture A Good Share Of Market

New WoodProducts Markets Need To Be Developed

Classic Mixed Bag For Lumber Retailers In 1986

Hardline Sales Expected To Prosper In New Year

Long Term Looks Good For Hard Work, Commitment

D-l-Y Retailing Industry Enters A Strategic Era

Building Material Wholesalers Expect Good Year

Home Centers Must Upgrade Their Selling Skills

Upbeat Attitude To Gonquer Down-Tick Year Ahead

SFPAEmphasizes Quality At 71st Annual Meeting

Recession Possibility Still Stalking The South National Hardwood Association Holds88thAnnual

Pub[shcr David Cutler

Editor Juanita Lowet

Asistrnt Edltor David Koenig

Contrlbuting Edton

Dwight Curran o Gage McKinncy

Art Dirrcror Martha Emcry

Strfl Ar&[ Carole Shinn

Circulrtion Dorothea Crecgan

Suilaing Prducts Digest is publish€d monthly at 4500 Campus Dr., Suite 480, Newport Beach, Ca.92ffi, phone (714) 852-1990 by Cutler Publishing, Inc. Advertising rates upon request.

Advertisiing Ottices

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BUILDING PRODUCTS DIGEST is an independently-ownd publication for the rctoil, wholsle and distribution leveb oJ the lumber and building supply markets in 13 bwhern slot6.

Homebuilding Strong In'86

Supported by stable interest rates, a rise in 1986 residential building will sustain next year's construction market at a record level, says George A. Christie, vice president and chief economist of McGraw-Hill Information Systems Co.

He forecasts 1986 construction contracting will rise 2Vo to reach a record $226.1 billion. He points out that "Next year's favorable interest rate prospects should give an edge to homebuilding over commercial and industrial construction which will be handicapped by a sluggish economy and the probability of tax reform."

"Since 1983, housing starts have settled into a remarkably steady groove at close to l.75 million units per year," Christie indicated. "And there's a very good chance that this three-year stretch of strong housing activity will go to four in 1986." He said that the forces that dominated the housing market during the first half of the 1980svolatile interest rates and complex tax sheltersare receding. In their wake the basic, underlying determinants of the demand for shelter, such as demographics, public programs, affordability and regionality, will begin to reassert their influence.

"Home ownership in 1985 is more affordable than at any time since this decade began. With interest rates steady or lower in 1986, it can be expected that new housing will be slightly more affordable next y€ff," Christie pointed out. "As this trend continues, the housing industry can expect to realize a larger proportion of the potential implied by the market's demographics." Christie expects that total residential building will top $l12.6 billion in 1986, up 790 over this year's anticipated level.

Regionally, the west will post the strongest gain in contracting value next year, rising 490. In the south, construction will grow a modest l9o, with the northeast and north central states showing 2 and 3Vo gains, respectively.

Dealer Video On Service

A trio of dealers discusses service to the customer, how it helps move merchandise and how it can be cost effective for the dealer, in a videotape presentation filmed for U.S. Plywood's annual fall dealer meetings.

Francis Mercante, Marco Building Center, Hammond, La., Terry Ono,

Houston Lumber Co., Las Vegas, Nv., and Ed Seyrnour, Forest City Home Centers, Cleveland, Oh., are panelists. John Hambrick, NBC:TV newscaster, is the moderator.

At the conclusion of the film Jack Armstrong, executive vice president of U.S. Plywood Corp. (formerly Champion Building Products) explains how the new comp€uly was created to continue the business of Champion Building Products after the acquisition of St. Regis by Champion International.

Loss Prevention Conference

The Home Center Institute will hold its fourth annual Loss Prevention Conference Feb. 17-20 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Fort Worth, Tx.

Speakers will include attorney James Cleary Jr. on "Legal Aspects of Handling Shoplifting Cases" and William Perry on "Controlling Your Bottom Line."

Workshop roundtables will cover personal computers within loss prevention, safety, setting up a shrink control program, document examination and other topics.