Word: lumber
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Consumer prices may rise more slowly in the months ahead. One indication is that wholesale prices were moving up only modestly during April, in contrast with strong advances during several earlier months. Softwood lumber prices, for example, jumped by 61% in March, but have begun falling again. For the moment, however, high prices are hurting not only the consumer but the exporter. The U.S. balance of payments, which was $990 million in the black at the end of last year, is expected to show a large deficit for the first quarter of the year. The important trade balance...
...seem reasonable that there should be "federal limitations on logging operations" on national forests so that the forests can add stability and a sustained yield of water, wildlife, recreation and forage, as well as wood, for people now and in future generations? Why not put the blame for high lumber and plywood prices where it belongs- on the market-managing lumber and plywood industries...
...Nixon three weeks ago appointed a task force to recommend remedies. Last week's action is aimed at increasing timber output from federal lands by about 10%, but the Administration clearly regards that as only a stopgap. Testifying at a Senate hearing, Romney last week warned that spiraling lumber prices jeopardize the goal of raising residential construction to 2,600,000 units a year under the Housing Act of 1968. The former auto executive and Michigan Governor criticized Democrat Robert Weaver, his predecessor at HUD, for failing to develop programs to meet that objective. Complained Romney: "I have inherited...
...logging operations and poor forest management techniques, the Government's holdings yield only a quarter as much timber per acre as private timberland. The Agriculture Department has long complained that Congress allows it too little money to manage better, even though the sale of timber to private lumber producers nets the Treasury substantial revenue. A lack of access roads causes as much sawtimber to be lost to storms and insect infestation as is harvested from national forests. Meanwhile, heavy opposition from conservationists makes any expansion of logging politically difficult...
...time being, Congress will probably content itself with imposing further limitations on lumber exports to Japan. Such restrictions should help to relieve the shortage and ease prices. On the other hand, they would undercut Washington's goals of fostering free world trade and improving the U.S.'s balance of trade. In any case, Congress can scarcely overlook the need to revamp the nation's timber management policies. That is something that Washington has not done for 30 years...