N TWS BRITTS

More Predictions

"We look for 1974 to be stronger than 1973," F{arold Kitay, president of Sunset Industries . "housing starts in '74 will be between 1.7 and 1.8 million. depentling on the Iiming of an expected housing recov- ery," John Ball, president, American Plywood Assn.

Economists at the U. of Pennsylvania's Wharton School predict a recession in the .first hclf of '74, due mainly to loss of Mid-Eastern oil . aluminum shortages may curtail storm door and window production by 507a, says a new Survey

Standard & Poor's says interest rates have peaked, more $$ for homebuilding should be on stream by mid-'74 . . Bank of America sees continued growth for California's economy in '74. tho at a lesser rate than this year state housing starts will be about 200,000, downfrom about 235,0A0, predicts Robert Lesser, a bldg. consultant

Field samplings by Merchant Magazine staffers reveal a surprisingly firm consensus that'74 "looks like a pretty good year after all," as one major Ore. wholesaler put it . . . Wells Fargo Bank sees housing as a "dreg on the economy," tho mfg. and non-residential will be strong. .

An APA energy survey of U.S. softwood plywood plants shows that fuel shortages, esp. propane, will have a critical effect in'74; tbe assn. is seeking an entirely new classification for producers from the feds in an attempt to alleviate limited fuel supplies

Georgia-Pacific has cut its deliveries of a key plywood resin (phenol) by 15%. . . Boise Cascade has lowered its plyv,ood outpnt l07o at 4 of their mills due to lack of glue supplies . some observers see lack of glue as a more significant shortage in the long run than reduced energy supplies . .

As foreseen. housing starts are continuing to decline, will probably hit levels not seen since the winter of '69-'70 . . housing starts fell8/% in Oct. from Sept., hitting a 1,613,000 annual rate, bldg. permits slumped 17.9Vo. . . home builders expect further drops in Dec. figures . .

After staying level during '73, total new construc'tictn nationally slipped in Sept., follorved by continued declines in Oct. and Nov. . . . lhe prime rate was moved at presstime from 9VzVo to 93/cVo by a number of major banks across the U.S. . .

Lincoln Creek Lumber, Centralia, Wash., held a grand opening recently to celebrate their new $100,000,26,000 sq. ft. home improvement center . . Fern Ridge Lumber, Eugene, Ore ., has gotten a permit to build a retail yard about a mile east of Veneta "f.R. Kirk, Inc., Sonoma, Ca., is a newlyincorporated lumber brokerage...

Plum Creek Lumber Co., Columbia Falls, Mont., has purchased Arden Lumber Co., north of Spokane, Wash., for an undisclosed amount Masonite bought Threeco., Inc., Ukiah, Ca., in exchange for common stock Evans Products has acquired Olympic B uilding M ateriais, Phoenix,'no terms were revealed

Citizens Lumber Co. plans to add 3,000 sq. ft. to their Kingsburg, Ca., yard Brooks Shafer plans an expansion of his Dinuba Lumber Co., Dinuba, Ca., . . . Ray Noble, Visalia Lumber Co. has finished his recent remodeling . . Pacific Grove Lumber is the new name for Big Sur Redwood Co., reports Jim Fife

Puy'N PrrA, Kent. Wash.. has opened new outlets in Tulsa, (18,000 sq. ft.) and Everett, Wash. (a 15,000 sq. ft. addition) . . . Grossm4n's has opened its 225 store, in the Ca. wine making town of Napa, their 3rd in the state; they plan to open 30 more in the Golden State within two years(!) . .

Las Cruces, N.M., is targeted for Cashway Building Materials' 4th major retail outlet in early '74; based in El Paso, Tex., Cashway plans a Salt Lake City store later in'74 . . H andy Drzn followed up the two Denver stores they opened in Aug. with a 3rd in Sept., plans call for "at least two more in Colorado," says Pres. Bernard Marcus

Sagebrush Sales, Albuquerque, N.M., has opened a new sales office in Portland, complete with 3 new salesmen . . . Coopers is building a new retail store, National at Sepulveda Blvd., LA. Homectwners Emporium plans to open store #3 in Montebello, Ca., in April or May . .

The proposed merger of Knape & Vogt and Acme General Corp. has fallen apart as has the proposed merger between Koppers Co. and Lloytl A. Fry Roofing Co. and Trumbull Aspholt Co. . . the feds have lifted price controls on cement and don't expect any price increases before Jan. l. . .

Empire Metal Products, Gardena, Ca., is celebrating its 25th year in business