Sales of framing lumber were slower in some species, but stronger in Southern Pine and Western S-P-F. Overall, purchasing was generally sufficient to keep prices flat or tilted upward. Southern Pine led the way with big gains in some items. Sweltering heat across much of the U.S. and Eastern Canada held back consumption. But this had little effect on Southern Pine; some traders said this was their best week of the year. Secondaries kept most of their speculative moves on the long side, but did so cautiously, wary of whether the market could sustain a summer run.

	Week Jul 22	Week Jul 15	Year Ago 2010
Random Lengths Framing Lumber Composite Price*	$271	$269	$253
KD Western S-P-F #2&Btr 2x4 R/L Mill Price	258	253	218
KD Eastern S-P-F #1&2 2x4 R/L, delivered Great Lakes	340	339	323
Green Douglas Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L (Portland)	253	260	185
Southern Pine (Westside) #2 2x4 R/L	265	258	245
KD Coast Hem-Fir Std&Btr 2x4 R/L	280	280	230
Ponderosa Pine (Inland) #2&Btr 1x12 R/L	555	565	600
* Weighted average of 15 key items

Sales of OSB were measured, but prices held to a firm footing with help from drawn-down production by mills. Most mills were booked into the week of August 8, and some files reached the week of August 15. Traders felt little apprehension about downside price risk. Rated sheathing prices in the South were firm to higher at the end of the week, as most producers quoted for shipment the week of August 1. A few reached out for orders in the following week, but found only a smattering of interest. Despite the restart of a Canadian mill following a two-week shutdown, steady sales of Fir plywood into Canada continued to provide footing for U.S. producers.

(f.o.b. mill prices)	Week Jul 22	Week Jul 15	Year Ago 2010
Random Lengths Structural Panel Composite Price*	$276	$275	$323
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 3-ply exterior sheathing plywood	285-315	285-310	338-365
Southern (west-east) 15/32-inch 4-ply exterior sheathing plywood	290-320	286-312	345-370
Western 1/2-inch 4-ply exterior sheathing plywood	283	283	342
North Central 7/16-inch Oriented Strand Board	167	167	197
*Weighted average of 11 key items

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