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WWPA fall meeting

Fewer housing starts and a stronger dollar are exPected to ease demand for western lumber in 1985, H. A. Roberts, President of the Western Wood Products Association, told the fall meeting of members in Monterey, Ca., Sept. 18.

"Total demand will be within l9o -20/o of 1984 demand-on the downside," Roberts said. "Inventories which are now slowlY sliding downward should continue down, especially in the last half of 1985.

"All in dl, 1985 will offer the same challenges as 1984."

He forecast housing starts for 1985 at 1.65 million units. The number of housing starts this year is expected to reach 1.8 million units.

This decline in residential construction will contribute most to the drop in lumber demand next year' Roberts predicts. Demand for lumber in residential construction is expected to fall 8.2s/o to 14.5 billion board feet in 1985. Residential usage is forecast to make up 39.590 of lumber consumption next Year.