Single-family housing starts decreased in September to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 859,000. The rate is 4.6% below the revised August estimate of 900,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Privately owned housing starts in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.22 million. This is 5.2% below the revised August estimate of 1.28 million and 7.4% below the September 2025 rate of 1.31 million. The September rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 349,000.
Housing units authorized by building permits in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.4 million, which is 0.2% below the revised August rate of 1.4 million and 3% below the September 2025 rate of 1.44 million. Single-family authorizations fell 4% from the revised August figure of 880,000 to a rate of 845,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 503,000.
Housing completions increased 2.2% month over month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.19 million but remained 14% below the September 2025 rate of 1.38 million. Single-family completions declined 2.4% from the revised August rate of 861,000 to 840,000, while the rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 339,000.
