SHELTER Magazine

Only Online - Shelter March 2007
Statistically Speaking

Value of Imports to U.S.
  Nov. 2006 Oct. 2006 % Change
Finished Products
Doors, windows and their frames of plastic 18,724,092 21,235,923 -11.8
Stainless steel doors, windows thresholds and frames 4,522,507 4,492,923 +0.7
Aluminum windows and frames 18,000,669 18,259,560 -1.4
Wood windows, French windows and frames 16,108,111 14,898,547 +8.1
Pine standard wood moulding 23,634,233 26,417,700 -10.5
Standard wood moulding, nonconiferous 10,425,195 10,395,081 +0.3
Wood flooring 10,463,986 11,384,293 -8.1
Wood blinds, shutters, screens and shades 15,920,633 15,482,868 +2.8
Lumber
Ponderosa pine, non-treated rough, finger-jointed 88,558 113,900 -22.2
Douglas fir, non-treated, finger-jointed 5,358,076 3,777,613 +41.8
Fir, non-treated, finger-jointed, rough 116,538 180,035 -35.3
Hemlock, non-treated rough, finger-jointed 85,303 230,765 -63.0
Western red alder, rough 9,636 (not avail.)  
Plywood, veneered panels and similar laminated wood 168,758,552 214,933,177 -21.5
Source: U.S. Commerce Department

Value of Exports to U.S.
  Sept. 2006 Aug. 2006 % Change
Finished Products
Plastic windows, frames and thresholds for doors 9,002,294 9,600,865 -6.2
Wood windows, French doors and frames 6,959,979 6,302,562 +10.4
Wood flooring 659,314 499,109 +32.1
Wood blinds, shutters, screens and shades 2,230,300 2,075,399 +7.5
Lumber
Ponderosa pine, non-treated rough, finger-jointed 88,558 834,208 +8.2
Douglas fir, non-treated, finger-jointed 4,840,666 4,471,839 +41.8
Fir, non-treated, finger-jointed, rough 418,291 283,288 +47.7
Hemlock, non-treated rough, finger-jointed 565,423 429,714 +31.6
Redwood, non-treated, finger-jointed 51,509 42,135 +22.2
Western red alder, rough 2,135,603 2,315,277 -7.8
Plywood, veneered panels and similar laminated wood 21,038,378 22,034,947 -4.5
Source: U.S. Commerce Department

MONTHLY HOUSING STARTS (JAN 2005 - NOV 2006)
Period Total In structures with --  
2006   1 unit 2 to 4 units (S) 5 units or more Northeast Midwest South West
Nov 1,588 1,281 30 277 165 222 851 350
Oct 1,488 1,185 37 266 152 237 718 381
Sept 1,724 1,393 29 302 137 269 938 380
Aug 1,659 1,365 41 253 160 255 889 430
July 1,760 1,445 83 232 148 293 887 434
June 1,833 1,478 44 311 168 298 910 457
May 1,953 1,587 51 315 198 294 950 511
April 1,832 1,524 56 252 178 338 881 435
March 1,972 1,615 36 321 166 294 1,032 489
Feb 2,132 1,812 35 285 186 326 1,038 582
Jan 2,265 1,814 27 424 241 369 1,136 519
2005
Dec 1,989 1,613 32 344 167 296 1,090 436
Nov 2,136 1,803 38 295 196 395 991 554
Oct 2,051 1,732 33 286 170 334 1,027 520
Sept 2,160 1,791 59 310 195 378 1,014 573
Aug 2,081 1,719 43 319 203 376 935 567
July 2,062 1,732 36 294 196 369 986 511
June 2,065 1,716 37 312 194 341 1,033 497
May 2,041 1,724 37 280 185 387 926 543
April 2,027 1,640 47 340 189 326 1,021 491
March 1,833 1,550 34 249 210 311 830 482
Feb 2,228 1,808 52 368 207 433 1,018 570
Jan 2,188 1,769 48 371 164 332 1,138 554
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Construction Reports, Series C-20, Housing Starts

ANNUAL HOUSING STARTS (1978-2005)
Year Single-Family Multifamily Total
2005 1,715,800 352,500 2,068,300
2004 1,610,500 345,300 1,955,800
2003 1,499,000 348,700 1,847,700
2002 1,358,600 346,400 1,704,900
2001 1,273,300 329,400 1,602,700
2000 1,230,900 337,800 1,568,700
1999 1,302,400 338,500 1,640.900
1998 1,271,400 345,500 1,616,900
1997 1,133,700 340,300 1,474,000
1996 1,160,900 316,100 1,476,800
1995 1,076,200 277,900 1,354,100
Source: NAHB