Economic Buzz: US housing starts tumble around 13.5% on year in Jul-26

The US Privately-owned housing starts in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,239,000. This is 12.4 percent below the revised June estimate of 1,415,000 and is 13.5 percent below the July 2025 rate of 1,432,000. Single-family housing starts in July were at a rate of 808,000; this is around 10 percent below the revised June figure of 897,000. The July rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 421,000.

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,443,000. This is 5.0 percent above the revised June rate of 1,374,000 and is 3.1 percent above the July 2025 rate of 1,400,000. Single-family authorizations in July were at a rate of 894,000; this is 2.5 percent above the revised June figure of 872,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 490,000 in July.

Privately-owned housing completions in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,212,000. This is 9.1 percent below the revised June estimate of 1,333,000 and is 16.8 percent below the July 2025 rate of 1,456,000.

Housing starts in May 2026 fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.177 million units, hitting their lowest level since May 2020. The current level is not far from it.

Powered by Commodity Insights