Despite lumber price plunge, high prices here to stay: experts

Homebuilders are not out of the woods just yet despite lumber prices plunging off historic highs and into negative territory for the year.

Random length lumber futures traded at CME Group on Tuesday fell as much as 2.67% to $667 per thousand board feet. With the decline, they were down 60% from their all-time high of $1,686 on May 7 and 24% this year. The price drop came during what is typically a seasonally weak demand period for lumber as most orders have already been filled. 

"While the recent drop in lumber prices is a positive development, the lumber crisis is far from over," said Jerry Howard, CEO of the National Association of Home Builders.

Lumber prices had soared by as much as 316% from the start of 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic caused supply chain bottlenecks and resulted in strong demand for building projects, including both home improvement and construction, as the ability to work from home led to the need for bigger houses.