Lumber Hits 12-month Low

Lumber decreased to 523.50 USD/1000 board feet, the lowest since September 2025. Over the past 4 weeks, Lumber lost 8.31%, and in the last 12 months, it decreased 14.94%.

Lumber futures fell below $527 per thousand board feet, reaching their lowest level in two years, as rising borrowing costs weighed on housing demand. Growing concerns over inflationary pressures and government debt have strengthened expectations of higher-for-longer interest rates and fueled a broader sell-off in the bond market, pushing sovereign yields to their highest levels in over two decades. As a result, mortgage rates climbed to 7.3%, their highest level in three years, further straining an already weak housing market. Although lacking any particular economic significance, economists refer to the 7% threshold as a psychological ceiling. Providing an offsetting pressure, Ottawa had announced counter-tariffs of 25% on US lumber and 50% on plywood following US tariffs on several lumber-related goods. US forestry groups have long accused Canada of distorting the market, as Canadian forestland is largely publicly owned, allowing its lumber to be sold at lower prices.

Lumber futures fell to around $535 per thousand board feet, remaining near their lowest level in nine months, as rising borrowing costs weigh on housing demand. Growing concerns over inflationary pressures have fueled a broader selloff in global government debt markets, pushing yields to their highest level in nearly two decades. As a result, mortgage rates climbed above 7%, a level last seen in January 2025, further weighing on prospective homebuyers. Although lacking any particular economic significance, economists refer to the threshold as a psychological ceiling. Meanwhile, lumber-intensive single-family housing starts increased 7.6% in August. Providing an offsetting pressure, Ottawa had announced counter-tariffs of 25% on US lumber and 50% on plywood following US tariffs on several lumber-related goods. US forestry groups have long accused Canada of distorting the market, as Canadian forestland is largely publicly owned, allowing its lumber to be sold at lower prices.