The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for May 2026: Building Permits – Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,413,000. This is 0.7 percent below the revised April rate of 1,423,000 and is 0.2 percent below the May 2025 rate of 1,416,000. Single-family authorizations in May were at a rate of 886,000; this is 0.6 percent above the revised April figure of 881,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 474,000 in May. Housing Starts – Privately-owned housing starts in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,177,000. This is 15.4 percent (±9.8 percent) below the revised April estimate of 1,392,000 and is 8.7 percent (±8.2 percent) below the May 2025 rate of 1,289,000. Single-family housing starts in May were at a rate of 882,000; this is 1.9 percent (±10.8 percent)* below the revised April figure of 899,000. The May rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 284,000. Housing Completions – Privately-owned housing completions in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,313,000. This is 8.1 percent (±12.3 percent)* below the revised April estimate of 1,429,000 and is 14.2 percent (±11.8 percent) below the May 2025 rate of 1,530,000. Single-family housing completions in May were at a rate of 872,000; this is 1.6 percent (±12.8 percent)* below the revised April rate of 886,000. The May rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 426,000.
Housing Starts and Permitting (06-16-26)
- Economic Monthly Summaries, Housing Starts and Permitting
- Published on
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