Bridging gaps in timber price research: An annotated bibliography on hardwood and softwood markets in the US

This review synthesizes 49 peer-reviewed articles (1995–2026) on US timber price dynamics, covering both hardwood and softwood markets. Using a narrative synthesis approach, the literature is grouped into three thematic areas: 1) Timber price trend analysis, 2) Modeling techniques for timber markets, and 3) Factors affecting timber prices. Findings reveal substantial market heterogeneity, with prices strongly influenced by macroeconomic shocks, trade policies, and natural disturbances. Although the literature has advanced understanding of timber price trends, economic drivers, and modeling techniques, important gaps remain, including limited regional diversity, underexamined complexities of the hardwood market, and weak integration of ecological factors into price models. This review highlights the need for incorporating ecological information, expanding regional and species-specific studies, and developing more integrative analytical frameworks to guide future research, inform industry stakeholders, and support more robust policymaking in timberland management.