US Housing Starts Fell 5.2% in September 2026 to 1.22M Rate
Privately-owned housing starts dropped to a 1,221,000 annual rate in September, down from a revised 1,288,000 in August.
Privately-owned housing starts declined to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,221,000 in September 2026, a 5.2 percent decrease from the revised August 2026 estimate of 1,288,000, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The September reading extends a downward trend, with August's figure itself revised to reflect a 5.9 percent drop from the prior month. The back-to-back monthly contractions signal continued softness in new residential construction activity heading into the final quarter of the year.
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The Census Bureau noted a wide margin of error on the September estimate — plus or minus 11.8 percentage points — a reminder that single-month housing starts figures carry significant statistical uncertainty and are subject to revision.
Housing starts are a closely watched leading indicator of economic activity, reflecting builder confidence, financing conditions, and near-term supply of new homes entering the market. Sustained declines can ripple through construction employment, materials demand, and ultimately available housing inventory for buyers.
Continue reading at U.S. Census Bureau Economic Briefing Room.
