US Housing Starts
Housing starts ran at an annual rate of 1.22 million units in September 2026, down 67,000 (5.2%) from 1.29 million in August 2026. A year earlier (Sep 2025), the reading was 1.32 million.
Housing Starts: chart
New privately owned housing units started, thousands, seasonally adjusted annual rate.
Latest readings
Monthly data| Month | Starts (annual rate) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 1.22M | -67K |
| Aug 2026 | 1.29M | -81K |
| Jul 2026 | 1.37M | -70K |
| Jun 2026 | 1.44M | +257K |
| May 2026 | 1.18M | -232K |
| Apr 2026 | 1.41M | -108K |
| Mar 2026 | 1.52M | +176K |
| Feb 2026 | 1.35M | -39K |
| Jan 2026 | 1.39M | +7K |
| Dec 2025 | 1.38M | +59K |
| Nov 2025 | 1.32M | +46K |
| Oct 2025 | 1.27M | -46K |
| Sep 2025 | 1.32M | +28K |
| Aug 2025 | 1.29M | -141K |
| Jul 2025 | 1.43M | +53K |
| Jun 2025 | 1.38M | +90K |
| May 2025 | 1.29M | -111K |
| Apr 2025 | 1.40M | +54K |
| Mar 2025 | 1.35M | -145K |
| Feb 2025 | 1.49M | +138K |
| Jan 2025 | 1.35M | -141K |
| Dec 2024 | 1.49M | +194K |
| Nov 2024 | 1.30M | -70K |
| Oct 2024 | 1.37M | +13K |
Related indicators
All US economy indicators →Frequently asked questions
How many new homes are being built in the US?
Housing starts ran at an annual rate of 1.22 million units in September 2026, down 67,000 (5.2%) from 1.29 million in August 2026. A year earlier (Sep 2025), the reading was 1.32 million.
What does seasonally adjusted annual rate mean?
Construction naturally slows in winter and picks up in spring. The Census Bureau removes those seasonal swings and scales the monthly figure up to a yearly pace, so months can be compared directly.
What is the difference between housing starts and building permits?
A permit authorizes construction; a start is recorded when excavation for the foundation begins. Permits usually lead starts, so they are watched as an early signal of where construction is heading.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, via FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (series HOUST). Data checked Nov 6, 5:40 PM ET. Not investment advice.