Quick Quotes for 1988

A random sampling of ideas and opinions

"Housing starts will decline to 1.45 million, down from 1.6 million this year, with single-family just under one million-a drop of some 150,000 units. Multifamily will decline 160/o to about 400,000 units."

Michael Sumichrast Senior Economic Advisor National Association of Home Builders

"Lower interest rates will make the difference between a shallow and a steep decline of construction activity next year."

George A. Christie Vice President/Chief Economist McGraw-Hill Information Systems Co.

"Industry now expects a slowdown in one of its fastest growing markets of the 1980s: repairs and alterations of nonowner occupied housing. Because of high vacancy levels, multifamily starts will decline next year to the range of 300,000 to 350,000 units."

Lynn Michaelis Chief Economist Weyerhaeuser Corp.

"On balance. the stock market crash does not seem to have significantly eroded the confidence of manufacturers."

Jerry Jasinowski Chief Economist National Association of Manufacturers

"However, if I had to pick a year that I would be worried about as far as a recession is concerned, it probably would be 1989, the year after the election."

Kent W.

Colton

Chief Executive Offrcer National Association of Home Builders

". gross national product next year will probably be pulled down. We expect to ride it out."

Beryl Sprinkel Chairman Presidential Council of Economic Advisers

"Notwithstanding what happened with the stock market, the economy entered the fourth quarter as it ended the third, with vigorous growth."

Robert J. Bretz Survey Committee Chairman National Association of Purchasing Management

"Housing, which has been one of the steadiest performers during this five-year economic expansion, is extremely vulnerable to any further increase in interest rates. "

Jim Fischer President National Association of Home Builders

Montana Joins WBMA

The Montana Building Material Dealers Association will oflicially be a part of the Western Building Material Association on January l, 1988, according to Chuck Link, WBMA executive vice president.

The 90 member Montana association had been managed by Irv Dellinger, who has joined the WBMA staffin Olympia, Wa., coordinating Montana member services and legislative activities.

According to WBMA's Link, the changes "will strengthen both or- ganizations. For retailers dealing with laws and regulations such as liens, workers compensation, liability and the like, this move creates a united effort to create a business climate most conducive to creating a proftt."

Ganada Shuns U.S. Plywood

A portion of the U.S./Canada trade agreement needs further editing if American plywood manufacturers are to be assured the opportunity to compete equitably with the

Canadian plywood industry.

Addressing a conference on U.S./ Canada trade, APA president William T. Robison said that the American Plywood Association "has never opposed fair trade. We do request, however, that our hands not be tied to an agreement that does not give us an opportunity to compete in the Canadian market."

The Nov. 6 conference chaired by Pacific Northwest Congressmen in Seattle, Wa., was scheduled to be repeated with the same format in Portland. Or.. on Nov. 7.