THtr ARIZONA

By FRANK DAVIS executive vice president

fHE National Assn. of Home Buildr ers have made repeated claims that the costs of wood components in a house have risen $1200 in the last six months of L972.

NFPA checked on its own and found: house in the $60,000 range showed a $729 increase.

[ ] On June 30, 1972, t}r,e average retail cost of all wood for a 1200 sq. ft. house in the $25000 range for framing, lumber, plyrvood, siding, millwork and trim rvas $1840. On Jan. 31, 1973 it was $2340, an inctease of $500.

[ ] On the same basis, a 1400 sq. ft. house in the $40,000 range showed a $635 increase and a 1600 sq. ft.

[ ] An actual house in the Washington, D.C. area selling for about $32,000 showed an actual increase of $?25.93 in the cost of all wood materials, including windows, doors, cabinetry and shutters for nine months from April, 1972 to February, 19?3.

[ ] A" actual house in the Chicago, Ill. area selling for $32,000 went from $5154 for lumber and millwork in June, 1972 to $5619 in JanuarY, 1973, an increase of $465.

To my knowledge, lumber and PIYwood only twice in the past ten years has shown any large increase. In 1968 (which eventually dropped suddenly in price) and now again, when it is at its peak.

If one were to check on the increases in labor, land, plumbing and electrical materials I think that perccntage wise they would go far beyond any increase in lumber and ply'w-ood in the last ten year period.