The economic assessment that “the worst is behind us” has almost become a mantra among economists, politicians, financial analysts and many CEOs. One can only wonder how much is wishful thinking and how much is reality.
Yes, there are signs of recovery, even in wood products. For example, two shuttered sawmills and a plywood plant near my home in southwest Alabama have begun taking logs and plan to reopen soon and elsewhere new biomass power and biofuel projects will also be coming on line this year.