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Housing outlook remains solid. (Clippings).

Lumber producers should be able to count on another healthy U.S. housing market in 2002 despite a U.S. recession that rattled consumer confidence, according to new forecasts released by the nation's realtors and builders. A report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) says the 2001 U.S.

housing market outperformed many analyst expectations and 2002 should hold up to challenging economic conditions. NAR said 2001 housing starts were up 1.7 percent to a total of 1.6 million units, and are expected to decline by 4 percent in 2002 to 1.54 million. The nation's home builders are even more optimistic for a solid 2002 market. The National Association of Home Builders is forecasting 1.57 million new housing units in 2002 and 1.63 million starts in 2003.

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