US Housing Starts Fall in August but Single-Family Starts Climb 7.6%

On Thursday, the US Census Bureau reported that privately owned housing starts were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 1,275,000 in August, a 2.6% decline from July’s revised 1,309,000 and 1.2% below the August 2025 level of 1,291,000. Single-family starts were 918,000, a 7.6% increase from July. The rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 344,000.

Building permits, a forward-looking measure, were at a SAAR of 1,394,000 in August, a 2.7% decline from July and 3.5% above the August 2025 level of 1,347,000. Single-family authorizations were 878,000, a 1.8% decline from July. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 467,000.

Housing completions were at a SAAR of 1,128,000 in August, 11.9% below July’s revised 1,280,000 and 27.1% below the August 2025 level of 1,548,000. Single-family completions were 816,000, a 10.4% decrease from July. The rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 302,000.