National dealerd group gets set for the '8Os

and the world economies," were forecast by Dr. R. Gene Conatser, economist and v.p. for the Bank of America, as he spoke before the 63rd annual meeting of the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association.

Rising oil prices, couPled with its availability, will bethe common thread running through most all areas of the U.S. economY,' he forecast. "Alternate energy sources will have a major imPact on the U.S. economy in coming Years," he stressed.

He said the U.S. must stoP its excess consumption sPending and start saving for the investments that need to be made in the 1980s. Dr. Conatser foresees, "quite good demand in lumber and building materials," and estimated that the chances for mandatorY wage/Price controls were "quite small."

"National," as the NLBMDA is often called, made some major changes during the convention, which was held at the Hotel del Coronado, across the baY from San

Story at a Glance

National reorganizes... John Martin new exec. Y.p. .. changed economic conditions for the '8Os forecast. Lee S. Briggs newpresident.

Diego, Ca. These included a complex reorganization of the group to better serve its members through the establishment of 5 new vice presidents to represent various regions. Changes in organizational priorities were also set to increase its response and usefulness to members in industry as well as government affairs.

A new executive v.p. was elected at the convention. He is John M. Martin, a former Southern California resident who nowlives in Washington, D.C.Martin has a background of more than 2l years as a professional association executive, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Idaho Senator James A. Mc-

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A widespread variety of reactions in the industry followed the Federal Reserve Board's Oct. 6, prescription ef credit tightening to aid the U.S.'s inflation sickness. .. they ranged from "especially severe" future developments; to"let's wait and see'." to the Westshoutd be "largely immune" to much of the downturn. .

The cost qf $$ soared immediately: the prime rate to a record l5tAo/r,, the prime mortgage rate to l4oh and T-Bills broke the lloh level for the lst time. two of the biggest s&ls in the West made drastic cutbacks in home loans as predictions of a credit crunch (sharply curtailed availabilitv of $$) increased.

Wholesalers and retailers generalfy began immediote reduction of inventory to reduce their financing costs; firms closely tied to new home construction have been more severely affected than others with industrial/commercial and d-i-v customers.

U.S. home builders, figuring that once again they are taking the brunt o.f ./bd. onti-inflotion measures, set Nov. 7-8 for a summit conference in Washington. D.C.. to seek a solution to tight credit problems.

Housing starts in Sept. (latest available) were stronger again than many expected: up 4.2olt from Aug.; at 1,881,000 units 0n a seasonally adjusted annual basis the 2nd healthiest in '79.. single family starts were up slightly to 1,249,000; multis r0se ll.7o/o to a 632,000 rate. starts rose in the West and bldg. permits moved up 506, the highest level this year. .

While the figs. don't reflect latest fed. moves, demand is still strong and the thrifts have a record volume of commitments for future lending, a whopping $22 billion: thus some economists think the real impact of gov. credit tightening will be postponed until early '80.

A union-approved study in British Columbia, Canada, of the dangers of wood dust showed no signi/icant e//bct on n'orkers.. construction contracts in Sept. fell for the 3rd consecutive mo., to put them 60[ behind a year ago.

Wider market penetration by sized lumber is foreseen by the Western Wood Products Assn.: improved technology allows sized lumber to be sawn so accurately that little or no planing is needed to achieve a uniform size.

U.S. Gypsum, National Gypsum, Georgia-Pacific and Celotex plan to fight high court moves to retry them on gypflm price-./'ixing charges. . . the Northwest Pacific RR rail tunnel collapse of last fall, 75 mi. South of Eureka, Ca., is expected to be repaired and fully operational by year's end.

Lou isi a n a - Pa ci/ic and Ge n st a r, Ltd. are still battling to acquire Flintkote Co.; the betting was on Genstar at presstime. Weyerhaeuser retail subsidiary Dixieline Lumber, San Diego, Ca., plans to acquire 30 acres in Las Vegas: 6 for a home center, 24 for a truss plant.

National Lumber plans a 57,000 sq. ft. store to anchor a new Ontario, Ca., shopping cen- ter, completion date is Oct. '80.. . Mullin Lumber, No. Hollywood. Ca., is in the midst of rebuilding after their recent fire. Flintkote Supply has a new unit under construction in Bakersfield, Ca., Seaman Moulding is adding on toits Sacramento. Ca., plant. Hexberg Lumber, Long Beach, Ca., plans a Reno, Nv. expansion. .

Louisia na -Paci,fic -hu, .o*pleted its lst new-from-theground-up distribution center in Fremont, Ca.; the l1-acre facil- ity is already in full operation. Totem Forest Products is a new Olympia, Wa., wholesale firm, specializing in cedar. Juniper Products, Prineville, Or., has been sold to Transcoastal Lumber, Fort Lee, N.J., for an undisclosed amount.

M&B Forest Proclucts is a new Medford, Or., wholesale company. . . Flintkote has held an opening for its new 8t/t acre Santa Paula, Ca., facility. Chandler Corp., Boise, ld., has opened a 50,000 sq. ft. Fontana,Ca.,facility. . . Anderson Forest Products, Portland, has acquired Crater Plywood of Westfrr, Or., and has changed the name to Anderson Plvtlood.

MidN,ayEquipment has opened a So. Ca. office for its Stihl brand chain saws. Tweedy Lumber has moved from Beverly Hills to Laguna Niguel, Ca. . . . Flintkote is erectins a new facility at the corner- of Kleppe Lane and Franklin Way in Sparks (Reno), Nv. . W.R. Grace & Co. has acquired the Coplanar Corp., Oakland, Ca.,no amount revealed.

The Pacific Lumber Co.Brooks Scanlon /ric. merger is off, no details other than B-S received additional offers. Boise Cascade has bought Madera Lumber. MaderaCa. Build & Grow plans a 2nd store, inlrvine, Ca.; 25,230 sq. ft., opening is 10-14 mos. off.

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