State and regional weighted averages were calculated for timber stumpage prices for the northeastern region. The weighting factor was the timber volume harvested. The regional price series for hardwood sawtimber, softwood sawtimber, hardwood pulpwood, and softwood pulpwood are reported for the 31 -year period, 1961 to 1991. Hardwood sawtimber prices increased at the average annual rate of 10.3 percent (nominal), softwood sawtimber at 6.4 percent, hardwood pulpwood at 6.5 percent, and softwood pulpwood at 5.3 percent. Inflation, as measured by the All-commodity, Producer Price Index, averaged 5.7 percent per year over the 31 -year period.

S2In West Virginia, yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) is abundant and is a prime candidate for increased utilization in a variety of manufacturing industries. Computer simulations are a cost-effective tool for estimating potential cutting yields from lumber. They can be used to promote increased use of yellow-poplar in the furniture, cabinet, and architectural woodworking industries and may also lead to increased utilization of the lower grades of lumber. This paper describes the data collection methods and the format of the new West Virginia yellow-poplar lumber defect database that was developed for use with computer simulation programs. The database contains descriptions of 627 boards, totaling approximately 3,800 board feet, collected in West Virginia for grades FAS, FASIF, No. 1 Common, No. 2A Common, and No. 28 Common.S3.