The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released their Monthly New Residential Construction Report for August 2026. Single-family housing starts totaled 918,000 in August, up 7.6% from the revised July figure of 853,000. Privately owned housing starts in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,275,000, down 2.6% from the revised July estimate.
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,394,000, 2.7% below the revised July rate.
Privately-owned housing completions in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,128,000, 1.9% below the revised July estimate of 1,280,000 and 27.1% below the August 2025 rate of 1,548,000. Single-family housing completions in August were at a rate of 816,000; this is 10.4% below the revised July rate of 911,000.
