Massive fires increasing wood prices in U.S.

Massive forest fires in western parts of Canada and the U.S. are not only choking us with layers of smoke, but are cutting off lumber supplies around our country.

The result is the cost of a new home is rising because of the growing shortage of framing lumber and laminated decking.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported combination of the wildfires and the 30 percent tariff President Trump slapped on Canadian lumber producers are causing lumber shortages and drove up the average prices on new single-family homes nationwide to $406,400 in May.

“More than a half-dozen lumber mills, which produce...