OSB Prices Dropped Last Month After Three Month Rise

The price of oriented strand board (OSB) fell 1.0 percent in October, whereas prices increased for softwood lumber (2.3 percent), gypsum products (0.3 percent) and ready-mix concrete (0.2 percent).

The National Association of Home Builders cites two important factors driving disparities between price changes builders have experienced and the producer price index (PPI) changes -- the PPI tracks prices paid by wholesalers, distributors, and retailers, rather than what those businesses charge customers, and does not include prices paid for imports.

The drop in OSB prices followed a three-month period in which prices increased 7.1 percent over the prior three months. While the monthly decline is welcome news, OSB prices remain 12.9 percent and 37.0 percent higher than they were at the beginning of 2017 and 2016, respectively.

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