Housing Starts
New privately-owned housing units started, seasonally adjusted annual rate.
1465.00
Thousands of Units
Min
478.00
Max
2494.00
Average
1431.10
10Y Percentile
72%
3M Change
+5.8%
3-Month
+5.8%
6-Month
+15.1%
12-Month
+4.6%
What this means
Housing starts rose to 1.465 million units, up 5.8% and now sit in the 72nd percentile of the past decade, indicating a strong building boom. The upward trend points to continued demand for new homes.
Historically, rising starts have boosted construction, lumber and homebuilder stocks as the economy expands. When the pace peaks, tightening rates can later weigh on those same assets.
Related Charts
Frequently Asked Questions
What are housing starts?
Housing starts measure the number of new residential construction projects that have begun in a given period. It is a leading economic indicator because construction activity reflects builder confidence in future demand.
Why do housing starts matter for the economy?
Residential construction drives spending on materials, labor, and furnishings. Falling housing starts often precede broader economic slowdowns. Housing led the downturn before the 2008 recession and has been a reliable cycle indicator historically.