Lumberyard Dealer Sentiment: Lead Times and Inventory Turns

Principia’s Lumberyard Dealer Sentiment Dashboard is a powerful tool designed to capture and reflect the perspectives of lumberyard dealers on key market indicators.

Lead Times

Over recent months, a clear trend of improvement in lead times have been presenting itself. In September, 79% of lumberyard respondents agreed that lead times were improving. Results from subsequent months confirm the sentiment.  The consistency in lead time improvement reflects a more efficient supply chain.

Inventory Turns

Another key metric examined in the dashboard is the opinion surrounding inventory turns. In September 2024, 50% of dealers surveyed agreed inventory turns were decreasing, possibly suggesting a slower construction market. The sentiment was slightly more positive in October and November, though still showing a large portion of lumberyards experiencing decreasing turns.

Principia’s ongoing dealer surveys offer valuable insights into the LBM dealer universe. Stay tuned for more insights about dealer sentiment toward market trends in 2025.