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 regulatory NEWS
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Regulatory Costs Climb 30%
The National Association of Home Builders laments the growing costs of housing regulation in its latest report, which demonstrates how government regulations account for 24.3% of the final price of a new single-family home. Regulatory costs for an average home jumped from $65,224 in 2011 to $84,671 in 2016 - nearly a 30% increase in 5 years. NAHB Chairman Ed Brady states, "The aggressive over-regulation of the housing industry is putting the American Dream of safe and affordable housing at risk."
Source: NAHB, June 1, 2016.
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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
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ECONOMIC TRENDS
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Labor Shortage Hurts Construction
The Associated General Contractors of America states that tight labor conditions could finally be "reaching the point where they undermine the sector’s growth." In May, The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a loss of nearly 15,000 construction jobs: 4,400 in residential and 10,300 in nonresidential. The agency also revised April's numbers down by 6,000: from a gain of 1,000 construction jobs to a loss of 5,000.
Source: Construction Dive, June 3; Construction Dive, May 9, 2016.
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ASSOCIATION NEWS
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HPVA® Experts Share Insights
Get the insights you missed - or you want to read again - from the experts who presented at the HPVA® Spring Conference. Download presentations including The Economy: Is This The New Normal?, Green Design Trends Using Hardwoods, Major End-Use Drivers For U.S. And Canadian Wood Products Consumption, Differentiating With Certified Products: The New American Decorative Hardwoods Campaign, New Technologies For Forest Resource Availability, and Promoting International Trade of American Hardwoods.
Source: HPVA®.
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NEWS BRIEFS
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China Bans Formaldehyde In Clothes
Shipments of imported, brand-name clothes were rejected due to formaldehyde content.
Source: Shanghai Daily, May 31, 2016.
Draft Bill To Fix Wildfire Funding
Senate committee releases a draft bill to improve the funding process for national forest management and wildfire suppression.
Source: NASF, May 27, 2016; see also draft Senate bill.
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Pending Home Sales Hit High
April pending home sales reached 116.3, the highest reading since February 2006.
Source: Hardwood Floors, June 1, 2016.
Homebuilders Buy Drones
20% of all homebuilders will use drones in 3 years. Expect insurance rates to increase due to personal injury and invasion of privacy lawsuits.
Source: Builder, May 25; Construction Dive, May 26, 2016.
Tasmania Supports Wood First
The state will require wood to be the first-choice construction material in public buildings.
Source: Architecture & Design, May 30, 2016.
Wood Skyscrapers Save The Planet?
Architects and scientists promote timber as an Earth-saving material; skeptics want more data.
Source: Fast Company Design, May 18, 2016.
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Climate Change Hurts Forest Health
Healthy forests soak up carbon. As the climate warms, though, they become more vulnerable to pests and diseases.
Source: Yale Climate Connections, May 27, 2016.
Ash Borer Confirmed In Texas
The deadly emerald ash borer that has killed tens of millions of trees has spread to Texas.
Source: NASF, May 26, 2016.
New Tech Tracks Wood’s Origin
New tracking technologies thwart illegal logging.
Source: World Resources Institute, May 25, 2016.
Wood: The Future Of Food?
Wood-derived polymers can improve the texture and stability of food products.
Source: FoodBev Media, June 1, 2016.
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Send Us Your Company News, Ideas For Articles, And More
We are always looking for great stories, news about your company, and interesting multimedia. We also welcome feedback on this week's content and suggestions for topics you would like to see in upcoming HPVA® eNews. Email us at innovate@hpva.org.
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