The latest reading, 1,275,000 for Aug 2026, was down 34,000 from the previous month. A year earlier it was 1,291,000.
Projection
gov.house's statistical projection for this series, with the range that has contained about 80% of outcomes in our backtests. In those backtests it was 12% more accurate than assuming no change.
| Horizon | Period | New privately owned housing units started | 80% range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | NOV 2026 | 1,297 | 1,177 to 1,417 |
| 6 months | FEB 2027 | 1,296 | 1,158 to 1,433 |
| 12 months | AUG 2027 | 1,296 | 1,138 to 1,454 |
Backtest: 48 rolling forecast origins. Average miss at 12 months: 79.2 (no-change: 90.4).
A statistical projection, not a prediction of policy and not investment advice. How the projections work.
About this data
New privately owned housing units started, seasonally adjusted at an annual rate, from the Census Bureau via FRED.
What it measures
How many new homes builders broke ground on in a month, expressed as an annual pace.
Why it matters
Housing supply is at the center of the affordability debate. Starts respond to mortgage rates, lumber and materials tariffs, labor availability and local zoning, and they lead construction employment by several months.
gov.house refreshes this page automatically from the official source twice a day. Figures are shown as published; recent values can be revised by the source agency.
Latest values
| Date | New privately owned housing units started |
|---|---|
| AUG 2026 | 1,275 |
| JUL 2026 | 1,309 |
| JUN 2026 | 1,439 |
| MAY 2026 | 1,182 |
| APR 2026 | 1,414 |
| MAR 2026 | 1,522 |
| FEB 2026 | 1,346 |
| JAN 2026 | 1,385 |
| DEC 2025 | 1,378 |
| NOV 2025 | 1,319 |
| OCT 2025 | 1,273 |
| SEP 2025 | 1,319 |