Updated May 2026 · U.S. Census Bureau
What Is Housing Starts (Annualized)?
Housing Starts (Annualized) is currently at 1,465K, down -42.0K from the previous reading of 1507.00K. The series is published by U.S. Census Bureau on a monthly schedule, last updated 2026-04-01.
Current Reading
How to Read This Reading
1,465K sits in the upper portion of the recent historical range for Housing Starts. Treat the reading as elevated rather than typical — sustained levels at this height usually have meaningful policy or business-cycle implications.
Housing Starts has moved lower from 1507.00K to 1,465K since the prior monthly release — a meaningful move of -42.0K. Pair this with the related indicators below before drawing strong conclusions; isolated moves on a single release often look larger than they really are.
Housing indicators describe the residential real-estate market — prices, volume, mortgage rates, new construction. Housing is a leading indicator for the broader economy because it is the largest single asset for most households and the most rate-sensitive sector.
What Housing Starts Measures
Housing starts measures the number of new residential construction projects begun during a given month, expressed as a seasonally adjusted annual rate. It is a leading indicator of economic activity because construction generates employment and demand for materials.
Housing starts jumped to 1.50 million annualized, a strong reading. For executives, residential construction is a multiplier: each new home generates demand for lumber, appliances, furnishings, landscaping, and financial services. Strong starts signal builder confidence despite elevated mortgage rates, likely driven by the severe shortage of existing homes for sale.
Methodology
The Census Bureau and HUD survey local building permit offices and conduct field counts. A 'start' is defined as the beginning of excavation for the foundation. Data is seasonally adjusted because construction is heavily weather-dependent. Single-family and multi-family starts are reported separately.
ExecBolt does not estimate, model, or interpolate this value — every reading on this page is pulled directly from U.S. Census Bureau (series HOUST). For full sourcing standards and citation guidance, see the methodology page; for plain-language background on the underlying concept, see the learn library; for live cross-checks against related series, see the indicators dashboard.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Housing Starts (Annualized) |
| Source | U.S. Census Bureau |
| Series ID | HOUST |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Category | housing |
| Last updated | 2026-04-01 |
| Next release | 2026-04-17 |
Related Indicators
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Housing Starts (Annualized) right now?
Housing Starts (Annualized) is currently at 1,465K, down -42.0K from the previous reading of 1507.00K. The series is published by U.S. Census Bureau on a monthly schedule, last updated 2026-04-01.
How is Housing Starts calculated?
The Census Bureau and HUD survey local building permit offices and conduct field counts. A 'start' is defined as the beginning of excavation for the foundation. Data is seasonally adjusted because construction is heavily weather-dependent. Single-family and multi-family starts are reported separately.
What does Housing Starts mean for business?
Housing starts jumped to 1.50 million annualized, a strong reading. For executives, residential construction is a multiplier: each new home generates demand for lumber, appliances, furnishings, landscaping, and financial services. Strong starts signal builder confidence despite elevated mortgage rates, likely driven by the severe shortage of existing homes for sale.
How often is Housing Starts updated?
Housing Starts is published on a monthly schedule by U.S. Census Bureau. The most recent reading is dated 2026-04-01; the next scheduled release is 2026-04-17.
Where can I verify this number?
The primary source for Housing Starts (Annualized) is U.S. Census Bureau at https://www.census.gov/construction/nrc/index.html (series HOUST). The historical series is also archived at U.S. Census Bureau and available via API for programmatic verification.