As the Federal Reserve contemplates additional interest rate hikes, pressure is expected to mount on the housing market and lumber prices are expected to fall.

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- For the moment, reports Madison's Lumber Reporter, it seems the North American construction framing dimension softwood lumber market has found a supply-demand balance, as the benchmark price drops slightly but many others remain flat. In the week following Easter, sawmills, and wholesalers seemed to find good price levels that attracted back customers who may have been waiting to book purchases. Suppliers reported robust sales on continued plump inventories, while buyer enthusiasm pushed sawmill order files into early May.