Crow's Construction Materials Cost Index (CMCI) Reports Potential for US$1.7 Billion Increase in Home Construction Costs

BOSTON, April 26, 2010 - Crow's Weekly Market Report (Crow's) today reported that the total cost
of lumber and panels for construction of a 2,116 sq ft home is nearly double
that of year-ago levels. Based on the Crow's Construction Materials Cost
Index (CMCI), the wholesale cost of lumber and panels for framing an average
home has risen from US$3,829.98 in April 2009 to US$7,088.60 today. In
addition, Crow's noted that when these figures are applied to the March 2010
single family housing starts number of 531,000, the potential exists for an
additional cost to the home building industry of US$1.7 billion. This rise
can be attributed to the continuation of a uniquely supply-driven lumber and
panel market. Crow's reported that while sustained and unexpected price
increases for lumber and panels have been seen in the recent past —
specifically in the 2004-2005 timeframe, those increases were almost solely
driven by demand from new housing starts. Crow's notes, that in today's
markets, retailers, wholesalers and producers alike have learned to get by
with as little inventory as possible, in an effort to keep ahead of an
expected drop in demand and prices as North America continues to fight its
way through the mortgage crisis and debilitating economic times.

(Logo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080521/NEW122LOGO )

Ken Tennefoss, Executive Editor of Crow's Weekly Market Report,
commented, "While we recognize that it is highly unlikely for lumber and
panel prices to remain at these levels for the remainder of the year, it is
worth noting that in 2004, there weren't too many people in the industry that
believed the price of 7/16 OSB would reach US$520, and yet, of course it
did." He continued, "It's important, now more than ever, to be aware of price
changes. From the manufacture to the guy nailing up 2×4s, the impact of
change can be tremendous."

About Crow's Weekly Market Report

Crow's Weekly Market Report, part of the Crow's Market & Price Service,
is the longest-running source of prices in the North American softwood lumber
and panel industry. Crow's provides objective wholesale pricing and detailed
market reports designed to give a quick but accurate understanding of each
week's market.

Crow's Weekly Market Report is published weekly. Yearly subscriptions are
available now for US$595. To order or for more information, please visit
www.risi.com/crowsprices.

About RISI

RISI is the leading information provider for the global forest products
industry. The company works with clients in the wood products, timber, wood
biomass, pulp and paper, tissue and nonwovens industries to help them make
better decisions.

Headquartered in Boston (Bedford), Massachusetts, RISI operates offices
in Brussels, Belgium; Atlanta, Georgia; San Francisco, California; Portland,
Oregon; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Shanghai, China; Singapore; and Charlottesville,
Virginia. More information can be found at www.risi.com.

    Contact:
    Dan Blenk
    Director of Marketing
    Wood & Timber Information
    RISI
    4 Alfred Circle, Bedford MA 01730 U.S.A.
    Tel: +1-781-734-8942
    Email: dblenk@risi.com

Dan Blenk, Director of Marketing, Wood & Timber Information, RISI, +1-781-734-8942, dblenk at risi.com