W h o I es cr I i n g

fN perusing last r vear's article in'The Mercha.nt on what business would be like in 1972. I fountl that I o'batted" .750 in my visions of what would happen in the market.place this year. Unfortunately, I missed the degree of demand factor somewhat, and I was also wrong about projected "flurries" or "ups and downs" of the market price levels.

However, we did correctly predict:

! The continuance of price controls through this year. (And, buy! Do we have price controls!)

! That we would see a continued upswing in housing and that financing of same would be ade-

Sfory q] q Glsnce

Dark days by mid-1973 if price regulations r€main the same . "selective" decline in housing starts, tho wood use will remain as.strong or strong- er environmental ordinances will limit activity in some markets. quate.

fl That if controls continued, demand would still determine the levels of the market.

! That if demand got out of hand, a two-tiered price system of U.S. and Canadian lumber would develop.

fl That the low inventory situation at mill and marketplace yards would be a factor creatins demand.