"There has actually been recovery since 2009, but there's probably nobody in this room who believes that," said economist Bob Berg during a luncheon presentation at the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association's (NRLA) 2012 LBM Expo.

He added to the positive news by suggesting that banks are starting to lend money again, as the nation's financial institutions slowly realize that one of the few ways for them to make money is to lend it the old-fashioned way.