Freddie Mac released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.65%. “Despite volatility in the markets, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage remained essentially flat from last week,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Mortgage rates continue to be relatively low versus the last few months, and homebuyers have responded. […]
Elk Creek Forest Products to Acquire All-Coast Forest Products
Elk Creek Forest Products, a full-service lumber producer and distributor, is pleased to announce the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) to acquire All-Coast Forest Products, a highly respected independent wholesale manufacturer and distributor of quality lumber products and building materials that opened in 1975. The transaction is expected to close by March 31, […]
Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
Mortgage applications increased 11.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending March 7, 2025. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 11.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, […]
Billerud Launches ConFlex® HeatSeal – A Recyclable, Heat-Sealable Paper Packaging Material
Billerud has developed a recyclable, heat-sealable paper designed to replace plastic in packaging applications with high demands for sealing performance and recyclability At Billerud we embed sustainability in everything we do and when developing new high performing packaging materials, we know we have a joint interest with converters and brand owners to replace plastics with […]
ABC: Nonunion Construction Workforce Tops 80% in 41 States
Associated Builders and Contractors released an analysis of 2024 state union membership data published by unionstats.com, which found that in 41 states at least 80% of workers in the private construction industry did not belong to a union. At least 90% of workers in the private construction industry did not belong to a union in 29 […]
CPKC Announces US $1.2 Billion Debt Offering
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (“CPKC”) announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Canadian Pacific Railway Company, is issuing US$600 million of 4.800% Notes due 2030 and US$600 million of 5.200% Notes due 2035, which will be guaranteed by CPKC. The offering is expected to close on March 17, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing […]
Emerson Completes Acquisition of Remaining Outstanding Shares of AspenTech
Emerson announced that it has completed its acquisition of all outstanding shares of common stock of Aspen Technology, Inc. (“AspenTech”) not already owned by Emerson. “The completion of our acquisition of AspenTech marks a key milestone in the final phase of Emerson’s portfolio transformation,” said Emerson President and Chief Executive Officer Lal Karsanbhai. “I want […]
Westlake Ace Hardware Acquires Chicago’s Edgebrook Ace Hardware
Westlake Ace Hardware will acquire the beloved Chicago Edgebrook neighborhood hardware store and continue its decades-long tradition of service Westlake Ace Hardware announced that it has agreed to acquire Edgebrook Ace Hardware, a family-owned retailer based in Chicago, Ill. The 8,700 sq. ft. store, located at 5423 West Devon Ave., will keep its Ace branding and will retain much […]
Ferguson Reports Second Quarter Results
Continued Volume Growth in Challenging Markets Ferguson Enterprises Inc. reports second quarter results. Second quarter highlights Kevin Murphy, Ferguson CEO, commented, “Our associates continued to execute well for our customers in the second quarter, generating continued market outperformance with a sequential step up in volume growth rates. We are navigating a unique time with continued […]
Madison’s Reporter: Lumber Prices Pop Up on Normal Seasonal Spring Buying
Exasperated players hoped for some much-needed clarity as confusion surrounding tariffs kept the market quiet but on edge. In the week ending February 28, 2025, the price of benchmark softwood lumber item Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2×4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$525 mfbm. This is up +$40, or +8%,from the previous week when it was $485, said […]