Smiles at Vt/WPAs spring meeting

EOn TFIE first time in years. neart ly universal optimism regarding 1986 business conditions brightened the meetings and the chatter at the spring meeting of the Western Wood Products Association. For More

Pictures

Please see pages 67-68

The most often voiced caution was that "lumber prices are going up too fast." As one lumberman said in the din of the informal gathering in the lobby of the Saint Francis Hotel where the convention headquartered, "but that certainly isn't the worst problem any of us has ever faced."

In his annual forecast, WWPA president H.A. "Bob" Roberts said the U.S. is expected to consume a record 45 billion board feet of softwood lumber in 1986 as an increase in home buildins activity along with further gains in re=pair and remodeling markets push demand for lumber 4Vo higher rhan in 1985. He predicted 1.8 million housing starts for this year, up from his previous forecast of 1.65 million starts.

Residential construction should ac- count for 39Vo of the lumber consumption. Lumber used for repair and remodeling is forecast to make up 26.4Vo of consumption.

Roberts cautioned that the expected increases in demand will not necessarily (Please turn to page 66)

Story at a Glance

Widespread producer optimism over '86 lumber consumption, less certainty rcgarding profits . . . possible forcstry plans'impact on lumber supply operating loss projected by association

Green Douglcs

Sawmills located at Molalla. Tillamook, Toledo and Clackamas, Onegon, with shipping via Sp, tnuck, ocean barge and fon expont.

post & beams, plank, and papen wnapped.

Some of our Specialties: . Mixed specified loadings