US House Flooring Market Stable
US hardwood lumber market stable
Despite down housing starts, the use of U.S. hardwood grade lumber has remained stable over the past five years, according to a recent TrendTracker report from the Hardwood Manufacturing Association.
The report shows total hardwood usage in 2006 at 10.7 billion board feet, the same as in 2002. Grade lumber used for furniture, cabinets, flooring and millwork also remained the same consuming 43 percent of total hardwood usage.
While demand for U.S. hardwoods for the domestic furniture market declined 55 percent in the past 10 years, the kitchen and bath cabinet market has grown 61 percent, the wood floors market has grown 56 percent and mouldings, dimension and millwork have experienced a 38 percent increase over the same time period.
