S2Hardwood lumber and stumpage prices appear to have risen substantially between 1964 and 1985. However, deflating these prices shows that inflation wiped out these increases for most species in two hardwood lumber markets and in a stumpage market. Only red oak, ash, and black cherry lumber prices increased faster than the rate of inflation. Yellow-poplar, basswood, hard maple, and soft maple prices actually declined in real terms.S3.

Two econometric models were developed to forecast consumption, production, and price of hardwood lumber, and removals and price of hardwood sawlog stumpage. Four eastern U.S. regions were represented in the models. Hardwood lumber consumption by manufacturing, shipping, residential construction, and nonresidential construction industries was recognized. Hardwood sawlog stumpage removals from nonindustrial private and forest industry ownerships were identified in each of the four eastern regions. Each model consisted of behavioral relationships which explain consumption, production, or removals as a function of price and other explanatory variables. Estimates of these relationships were developed using annual time series data for the sample period 1960 to 1976. Based on the analysis of historical simulations, the models appeared to provide adequate predictive ability to be used to develop forecasts. Hardwood lumber consumption, production, and price were forecast to increase to the year 2030. Manufacturing and shipping industries increase their share of hardwood lumber consumption over this time period. Hardwood lumber production shares increase for the two southern regions. Hardwood sawlog stumpage removals for the nonindustrial private and forest industry ownerships were forecast to increase. The nonindustrial private share of hardwood sawlog stumpage removals declines. Hardwood sawlog stumpage prices were forecast to decline in three of the four eastern regions.