US housing starts fell 15.4% month-on-month in May 2026, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.177 million, the lowest since May 2020. This follows a downwardly revised 1.392 million in April and fell short of market forecasts of 1.43 million. The data indicates that high mortgage rates are curbing builder activity, with contractors adopting a cautious approach as they reduce the inventory of new homes for sale due to sluggish demand. To attract buyers, many have lowered prices, provided mortgage rate subsidies, and slowed the construction of spec homes, which are properties built without a signed contract. Multi-family starts plunged 41.6% to 284,000, the lowest since November 2024, while single-family starts slipped 1.9% to an eight-month low of 882,000. Regionally, construction activity declined sharply in the South (down 17.0% to 594,000), the West (down 17.2% to 264,000), and the Northeast (down 26.8% to 123,000), while the Midwest saw a 3.7% increase to 196,000. source: U.S. Census Bureau

Housing Starts in the United States decreased to 1177 Thousand units in May from 1392 Thousand units in April of 2026. Housing Starts in the United States averaged 1430.71 Thousand units from 1959 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 2494.00 Thousand units in January of 1972 and a record low of 478.00 Thousand units in April of 2009. This page provides the latest reported value for - United States Housing Starts - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United States Housing Starts - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.

Housing Starts in the United States decreased to 1177 Thousand units in May from 1392 Thousand units in April of 2026. Housing Starts in the United States is expected to be 1200.00 Thousand units by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United States Housing Starts is projected to trend around 1290.00 Thousand units in 2027 and 1270.00 Thousand units in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-21 12:30 PM
Housing Starts
Apr 1.465M 1.507M 1.41M 1.45M
2026-06-16 12:30 PM
Housing Starts
May 1.177M 1.392M 1.43M 1.44M
2026-07-17 12:30 PM
Housing Starts
Jun 1.177M 1.2M



Components Last Previous Unit Reference
Housing Starts Multi Family 284.00 486.00 Thousand units May 2026
Housing Starts Single Family 882.00 899.00 Thousand units May 2026

Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Building Permits 1413.00 1423.00 Thousand May 2026
Building Permits MoM -0.70 4.40 percent May 2026
Construction Spending MoM 0.40 0.20 percent Apr 2026
Home Ownership Rate 65.30 65.70 percent Mar 2026
Housing Starts 1177.00 1392.00 Thousand units May 2026
Housing Starts MoM -15.40 -8.50 percent May 2026
New Home Sales 622.00 663.00 Thousand units Apr 2026
New Home Sales MoM -6.20 3.40 percent Apr 2026


United States Housing Starts
Housing Starts refer to the number of new residential construction projects that have begun during any particular month. Estimates of housing starts include units in structures being totally rebuilt on an existing foundation.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
1177.00 1392.00 2494.00 478.00 1959 - 2026 Thousand units Monthly
Volume, SA

News Stream
US Housing Starts Plunge to Six-Year Low
US housing starts fell 15.4% month-on-month in May 2026, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.177 million, the lowest since May 2020. This follows a downwardly revised 1.392 million in April and fell short of market forecasts of 1.43 million. The data indicates that high mortgage rates are curbing builder activity, with contractors adopting a cautious approach as they reduce the inventory of new homes for sale due to sluggish demand. To attract buyers, many have lowered prices, provided mortgage rate subsidies, and slowed the construction of spec homes, which are properties built without a signed contract. Multi-family starts plunged 41.6% to 284,000, the lowest since November 2024, while single-family starts slipped 1.9% to an eight-month low of 882,000. Regionally, construction activity declined sharply in the South (down 17.0% to 594,000), the West (down 17.2% to 264,000), and the Northeast (down 26.8% to 123,000), while the Midwest saw a 3.7% increase to 196,000.
2026-06-16
US Housing Starts Fall Less than Expected
US housing starts were down 2.8% month-on-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.465 million in April 2026, compared to an upwardly revised 1.507 million in March which was the highest level since December 2024 and above forecasts of 1.41 million. The data suggest that high mortgage rates are weighing on builders. Single-family starts were down 9% to 0.93 million, while multi-family starts jumped 14.3% to 0.529 million. Regionally, construction activity declined in the South (+9.1% to 794,000), the West (-11% to 723,000), but increased in the Northeast (+16.1% to 180,000), the West (+5% to 356,000) and the Midwest (+2.5% to 206,000).
2026-05-21
US Housing Starts Surge to 15-Month High
US housing starts rose 10.8% month-on-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.502 million in March 2026, the highest level since December 2024 and well above forecasts of 1.40 million, as builders scaled up construction despite ongoing affordability challenges. Single-family starts surged 9.7% to a 13-month high of 1.032 million, while multi-family starts jumped 9.6% to 446,000. Regionally, construction activity climbed sharply in the South (+9.1% to 794,000), the West (+7.2% to 311,000), the Midwest (+12.2% to 221,000), and the Northeast (+24.8% to 176,000). Meanwhile, building permits, a leading indicator of future construction, fell to an annualized pace of 1.372 million, the lowest level since August. The data suggests the housing market may be finding its footing, with builders using incentives to draw in buyers. Yet, the Iran war has introduced fresh economic uncertainty, pushing material costs and mortgage rates higher.
2026-04-29