NAHB Podcast: Skyrocketing Lumber Prices Must Be Addressed Now
On the latest episode of Housing Developments, NAHB CEO Jerry Howard provides an analysis of how the housing industry is leading the nation's economic recovery. However, Howard stresses that the recent dramatic increase in lumber prices threatens the industry and economy on the whole. NAHB is asking the Administration to call on domestic lumber producers to ramp up production to ease growing shortages and to make it a priority to work with Canada on a new softwood lumber agreement that would end tariffs averaging more than 20% on Canadian lumber shipments into the United States.
Learn more about NAHB's efforts on the lumber issue on nahb.org.
Latest from NAHBNow
Jun 18, 2025
Podcast: Mid-Year Update on Economic Indicators and Advocacy PrioritiesOn the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, COO Paul Lopez welcomes NAHB Chief Economist Dr. Robert Dietz and Chief Advocacy Officer Ken Wingert for a mid-year check in on key economic indicators and NAHB policy priorities driving home building for the rest of 2025.
Jun 18, 2025
Sharp Drop in Multifamily Production Brings Overall Housing Starts DownOverall housing starts decreased 9.8% in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.26 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.
Latest Economic News
Jun 18, 2025
Sharp Drop in Multifamily Production Brings Overall Housing Starts DownA sharp decline in multifamily production pushed overall housing starts down in May, while single-family output was essentially flat due to economic and tariff uncertainty along with elevated interest rates.
Jun 17, 2025
Builder Sentiment at Third Lowest Reading Since 2012In a further sign of declining builder sentiment, the use of price incentives increased sharply in June as the housing market continues to soften.
Jun 16, 2025
Permit Activity Weakens in April 2025Housing permits continued a downhill trend for the fourth month in a row, pointing to a broader residential construction slowdown for 2025. Over the first four months of 2025, the total number of single-family permits issued year-to-date (YTD) nationwide reached 320,259.