Wholesale prices of goods used in residential construction rose in May as energy prices continued to climb. In May, residential building material prices, excluding energy, rose at their highest yearly rate since January 2023, as prices were up 4.4% from a year ago and up 0.7% over the month. Meanwhile, prices for services rose 4.7% over the year, but were unchanged from the previous month.

C&C Forest Products announced it is investing over $21 million to rebuild its Coushatta sawmill following a 2025 fire, repositioning the facility as a more efficient, cost-competitive specialty lumber and timber operation. The company is expected to create 77 direct new jobs with an average annual salary of $65,260, which is 34% above the average Red River Parish wage, while retaining 27 current positions.

The construction industry had 259,000 job openings on the last day of April, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. JOLTS defines a job opening as any unfilled position for which an employer is actively recruiting.

By the Numbers is a monthly column providing facts and figures on the woodworking industry. By the Numbers is sponsored by IMA Schelling Group. 

New residential furniture orders rose 1% in March compared to the previous month, but were down 2% compared to March 2025's numbers, according to the May issue of Furniture Insights. Approximately 60% of participants reported increases versus decreases in March compared to a year ago.

April cabinet sales were down compared to both the year prior, and the month prior, according to the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association's Trend of Business report. Custom was the only segment to record growth in both timeframes, with semi-custom showing declines in both, and stock sales mixed.

At $15.6 billion, the segment accounts for 21.8% of FDMC 300 sales.

TEMPE, Ariz. — Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in May for the fifth consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest ISM Manufacturing PMI Report. Among the positive news, furniture and related products was one of the bright spots, while the wood products industry struggled. The report was issued today by Susan Spence, MBA, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.Here is a look at some of the categories surveyed and how furniture and wood products fare:

According to Mordor Intelligence, the United States office furniture market size was valued at $15.82 billion (USD) in 2025 and is expected to reach $16.47 billion (USD) in 2026. According to the market forecast, the market is projected to grow to $20.94 billion (USD) by 2031 at a CAGR of 4.92% during 2026-2031.

According to Mordor Intelligence, the bedroom furniture market size is expected to grow from $126.80 billion (USD) in 2025 to $132.49 billion (USD) in 2026, reaching $165.07 billion (USD) by 2031 at a CAGR of 4.49%.