Housing Starts (Annualized) vs Producer Price Index (PPI) — Year-over-Year
Housing Starts (Annualized) is currently 1,501K (up +151.0K). Producer Price Index (PPI) — Year-over-Year is currently 2.7% (down -0.5%).
| Metric | Housing Starts (Annualized) | Producer Price Index (PPI) — Year-over-Year |
|---|---|---|
| Current value | 1,501K | 2.7% |
| Previous reading | 1350K | 3.2% |
| Change | +151.0K | -0.5% |
| Trend | up | down |
| Frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Source | U.S. Census Bureau | Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Last updated | 2026-03-18 | 2026-03-13 |
| Category | housing | inflation |
What Housing Starts (Annualized) 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.
What Producer Price Index (PPI) — Year-over-Year measures
The Producer Price Index measures the average change in selling prices received by domestic producers for their output. It is a leading indicator of consumer inflation — rising producer costs eventually get passed to consumers.
PPI declining to 2.7% from 3.2% signals easing upstream cost pressures. For executives, falling producer prices suggest input cost relief is coming — raw materials, components, and wholesale goods are becoming cheaper relative to recent months. This is bullish for profit margins if selling prices remain stable.
Frequently asked
Housing Starts (Annualized) is currently 1,501K, up +151.0K from the previous reading. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, updated monthly.
Producer Price Index (PPI) — Year-over-Year is currently 2.7%, down -0.5% from the previous reading. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, updated monthly.
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, landsc PPI declining to 2.7% from 3.2% signals easing upstream cost pressures. For executives, falling producer prices suggest input cost relief is coming — raw materials, components, and wholesale goods are