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Housing production holds steady in August

Sept. 19, 2017 - Nationwide housing starts fell 0.8 per cent in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.18 million units, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Commerce Department.

Single-family production rose 1.6 per cent in August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 851,000 after a downwardly revised July reading. Year-to-date, single-family starts are 8.9 per cent above their level over the same period last year. Multifamily starts dropped 6.5 per cent to 329,000 units after an upward July revision.  

"This month's report shows that single-family starts continue to move forward at a gradual, consistent pace," said NAHB chief economist Robert Dietz. "The three-month average for single-family production has reached a post-recession high, but the months ahead may show volatility given that the building markets affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma represent about 14 per cent of national production."  

"We are playing close attention to the communities affected by these hurricanes, and are helping them start on the rebuilding and restoration process," said Granger MacDonald, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder and developer from Kerrville, Texas.  

Regionally in August, combined single- and multifamily housing production rose 22.0 per cent in the Midwest and 4.0 per cent in the West. Starts fell 7.9 per cent in the South and 8.7 per cent in the Northeast. 

Overall permit issuance in August was up 5.7 per cent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.30 million units. Single-family permits edged down 1.5 per cent to 800,000 units while multifamily permits rose 19.6 per cent to 500,000.

Regionally, overall permits rose 15.3 per cent in the West, 8.8 per cent in the Midwest and 3.7 per cent in the South. Permits fell 13.0 per cent in the Northeast. 

September 19, 2017  By National Association of Home Builders