Lumber Prices Approach Level of Same Week Last Year & Two Years Ago
frustrated and confused players.
One of the most interesting things to watch with the North American softwood lumber market is the dynamic between the prices of the main commodities: 2x4 #2&Btr. Wood products of this grade standard come in a variety of species, the main ones of which are Western and Eastern Spruce-Pine-Fir and Southern Yellow Pine. End-users (home builders) are able to choose which to purchase according to preference and whichever is available at the best price at any given time.
As previously mentioned often by Madison’s, historically it is the Labour Day long weekend which signals the usual seasonal slowdown of new housing construction as autumn looms. Generally at this time lumber sales begin to slow down for the winter season. Given the huge swings and volatility of lumber prices from 2020 to 2022, the past couple of years have been a waiting game to see what will be the “new normal” for the lumber market.
This week Madison’s takes a hard look at the current data compared to the previous two years and compared to the last “normal” year of 2019.
KEY COMMENT:
Lumber sales continued slow due to global trade confusion, uncertain economic conditions, and last-minute summer vacations.
Graph: Western-SPF & SYP 2x4 prices comparison
In the week ending August 29, 2025, the price of benchmark softwood lumber item Western Spruce-Pine-Fir 2x4 #2&Btr KD (RL) was US$420 mfbm. This is down $30, or 7%, from the previous week when it was US$450, said weekly forest products industry price guide newsletter Madison’s Lumber Reporter.
That week’s price was down -$81, or -16%, from one month ago when it was US$501.
For that same time period, the price of WSPF 2x4 #3/Utility was US$298 mfbm which was up $8, or 3%, from the previous week when it was US$290. That week’s price is down $21, or 6%, from one month ago when it was US$319.
+$32, or -15%, from the previous week and from the previous when it was $210 for both.
June 2025
June 2025
September 2025
![Graph: Western-SPF & SYP 2x4 prices comparison]({"t":"ext_link","c":{"dest":"https://madisonsreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/MadisonsGraph2x4-scaled.png"},"tooltip":""}){kind=link}