Construction the first 2 quarters of 2010 has been much stronger than Pacific Northwest lumber companies had anticipated and that has made for some scrambling to keep up. In spite of the recession, lumber suppliers have been working hard to build up the inventories they keep, and with the loss of a plywood supplier in Chile that was wiped out because of the earthquake, Northwest mills are busy, busy, busy.
The housing market slowed last year, as far as construction of new homes went, but the rise in the building market this year took suppliers by surprise, so lots of overtime in some mills have brought the supply up and it looks like it will continue through the year, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Power pole supplier McFarland-Cascade in Tacoma says the federal money grants have helped, specifically for wind farm construction and alternative energy projects.