Construction Spending during February 2013 rose 1.2 percent over January to $ 855.1 billion. This is 7.9 percent above February 2012. Private construction was at an adjusted rate of $ 613 billion, 1.3 percent above January’s estimate.
Residential construction rose 2.2 percent from January to $ 605.2 billion, and nonresidential was $ 309.6 billion, 0.4 percent above January.
Public construction spending was $ 272.1 billion, 0.9 percent above January. Educational construction fell to a rate of $ 63.2 billion, 0.3 percent below January.

Source: hardwoodfloorsmag.com

A CE standard for wood products has been recognised in Japan for the first time. This will simplify exports of construction timber to Japan, for European sawmills.
CEI-Bois has worked through EuropeanWood to facilitate exports of wood products to Japan.
“Recognition of the CE marked products for 2”x4” construction timber is a major breakthrough in our efforts to harmonise standards between Europe and Japan,” says Jan Söderlind, Chairman of EuropeanWood. Up until now European producers of 2”x4” products for structural usage needed a JAS certificate (Japan Agriculture Standard). From February 6, the European standard 14081-1 for design strength values for structural lumber is recognised in Japan. CE stamped 2”x4” products can thus be used in the same way as JAS certified products. Pine and spruce are included in the first step but other species can be added later.
Recognised certifying bodies are NTI (Norwegian Institute of Wood Technology) and SP (SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden). Other certifying bodies can apply at a later stage.

Go to Web Site European Wood.

On invitation of its Belgian members (Fédération nationale des Scieries - FNS, Union nationale des Entreprises du Bois – UNEBO, Centre de Populiculture du Hainaut - CPH and Union flamande pour l’Exploitation de la Forêt – UVB), Pro-Populus gathered on 19 and 20 June 2014 in Ghent at the occasion of its 6th General Assembly, 4th European Poplar Congress and field visits. At the time of closing this two-day programme, all participants recognised that poplar is a qualitative species characterized by a fast growth, which can offer swift solutions to safeguard the future availability of wood, contribute to a more durable and greener economy and help mitigating climate change. They all agreed to continue their cooperation to sensitize European policy makers about these inherent advantages, which are great assets for reaching the European targets in terms of sustainable development.

Go to Web Site Pro Populus.

Streaming of the meeting organized by the Professional Parquet magazine in collaboration with dell'ANPP (National Association of professional layers).
Speakers: Domenico Adelizzi, Filippo Cafiero, Antonio Viscardi, Simon Biagiotti, with the participation of Gabriel Marrazzini.