Because of the amount of wood found in U.S. homes, housing starts are a major economic indicator for wood products. Floors, cabinets, moldings, and furniture are just some of the many wood products found throughout our homes. Housing starts are down from 2022; however, they began picking up toward the end of 2023 (Figure 8). Cuts to the interest rates are expected to spur an increase in housing starts. The 17+ million housing starts in 2023 is much higher than the 6.6 million in 2009 (Figure 9).