The Vancouver Sun reports in its Saturday edition that the head of West Fraser Timber says he expects the company will continue to experience unpredictable challenges such as inflation risks and labour constraints. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Sun says, however, that chief executive officer Sean McLaren told analysts during the company's earnings conference call that West Fraser is encouraged by lower mortgages rates in the United States and the continued easing of inflationary pressures across much of the supply chain. "While demand markets were challenging in 2023 and there are near-term uncertainties across our business," the company is optimistic about continued demand growth for the products West Fraser Timber makes, Mr. McLaren said. The company reported its fourth-quarter results Wednesday after the closing bell, posting a loss of $153-million (U.S.) compared with a $94-million (U.S.) loss a year earlier. With new housing construction levels beginning to rebound as 2023 drew to a close after a pause in interest rate hikes, the company said it expects a combination of low home supply and a large cohort of the population entering home-buying age to support demand over the longer term.