Gypsum industry news

US: November 2011 saw more home starts in the US than any month since April 2010. The surge was reportedly led by an increase in multifamily units. The gypsum industry will be watching to see if the trend continues for December 2011, which might finally signify an upturn in demand for wallboard.

Starts increased by 9.3% to a 685,000 annual rate. Building permits, a sign for future construction, also climbed to a year-high. As well as multifamily homes, typified by apartments, demand for single-family-homes may also be increasing. A drop in house prices and low borrowing costs is thought to be the reason for the increase in demand.

"For months we've been flagging the strength in multifamily construction, but now we're starting to get signs that single-family is pulling itself off the canvas," said Brian Jones from Société Générale in New York.