US building permits
Latest reading
Building permits, the change in new private housing units authorised by building permits from twelve months earlier, was -3.2% in Sep 2026.
-25.0%0.0%+25.0%+50.0%
20172019202120232025
Recent readings
| Period | Building permits |
|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | -3.2% |
| Aug 2026 | +4.2% |
| Jul 2026 | +2.4% |
| Jun 2026 | -1.8% |
| May 2026 | -0.4% |
| Apr 2026 | -1.5% |
| Mar 2026 | -8.6% |
| Feb 2026 | +6.5% |
| Jan 2026 | -4.8% |
| Dec 2025 | +1.0% |
| Nov 2025 | -6.5% |
| Oct 2025 | -1.2% |
By year
| Year | Reading | Of |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | -3.2% | Sep 2026 |
| 2025 | +1.0% | Dec 2025 |
| 2024 | -2.3% | Dec 2024 |
| 2023 | +7.4% | Dec 2023 |
| 2022 | -25.9% | Dec 2022 |
| 2021 | +7.5% | Dec 2021 |
| 2020 | +21.6% | Dec 2020 |
| 2019 | +9.6% | Dec 2019 |
| 2018 | +0.5% | Dec 2018 |
| 2017 | +5.0% | Dec 2017 |
| 2016 | +3.1% | Dec 2016 |
What it measures
The yearly change in the number of new private housing units authorised by building permits in the United States, an early reading of homebuilding.
Source: US Census Bureau, New Residential Construction: new private housing units authorized by building permits (seasonally adjusted annual rate); the yearly change is ours.
More macro series
No forecast, no recommendation. This page shows a published economic series and its history; it is not advice. Readings as of Sep 30, 2026; data may be revised by its publisher.