Latest News Stream - Building Permits

US building permits fell 0.4% month-on-month in September 2026 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.398 million, slightly below the preliminary estimate of 1.4 million. This marked a second consecutive monthly decline and the lowest level since June, highlighting continued weakness in the housing market as elevated mortgage rates and rising inventories of unsold new homes weighed on construction activity. Permits for multifamily buildings with five or more units declined 0.5% to 552,000, while single-family permits edged up 0.1% to 846,000. Regionally, permitting activity fell sharply in the West (-9.5% to 285,000) and remained unchanged in the Midwest at 212,000. In contrast, the South recorded a 1.1% increase to 756,000, while the Northeast saw permits surge 13.3% to 145,000.

Building plans approved in South Africa dropped by 4.3% from a year ago to around 8,906 million in August 2026, following a 4.1% rise in the prior month. It follows two consecutive monthly declines. Lower permits for non-residential buildings (-24% vs -5.5% in July) and residential buildings (-7.3% vs 12.1%) more than offset a 24.2% jump for additions & alterations.

Building Permits in the United States decreased 0.2% month-over-month to 1.400 million units in September 2026, marginally above market expectations of 1.390 million. Single-family permits fell 4% to 845,000, while permits for buildings with five or more units rose 5.9% to 503,000. Regionally, permits fell in the West (-10.2% to 283,000), but rose in the Northeast (13.3% to 145,000), the Midwest (0.5% to 213,000), and the South (1.5% to 759,000).

The number of building permits issued in Serbia fell 3.9% year-on-year to 2,443 in August 2026, reversing an 8.6% rise in the previous month. Building construction accounted for 82.2% of all permits issued, of which 84.5% were intended for residential buildings and 15.5% for non-residential projects. The remaining 17.8% of permits were for civil engineering projects, the majority of which (66.5%) were related to pipelines, communication and electric power lines. Meanwhile, a total of 3,771 dwellings were authorized for construction, of which 9.7% were planned for single-dwelling buildings and 88.8% for buildings with three or more dwellings. The anticipated value of new construction works accounted for 79.9% of the total anticipated value of works. By region, the highest share of planned construction was recorded in the Belgrade region, at 29.3%.

Building Permits in the United States decreased 2.1% month-over-month to 1.403 million units in August 2026, compared to initial estimates of a larger 2.7% fall to 1.394 million. Permits for buildings with five or more units fell 1.5% to 475,000, and single-family permits decreased 1.6% to 880,000. Regionally, permits fell in the Northeast (-15.8% to 128,000), and the Midwest (-5.8% to 212,000), but rose in the West (2.3% to 315,000) and were unchanged in the South (at 748,000).

Building plans approved in South Africa rose by 4.1% from a year ago to around 9,335 million in July 2026, following an upwardly revised 34.3% jump in the prior month. Permits increased further for residential buildings (12.2% vs 8% in June), but declined for both non-residential buildings (-5.5% vs 154.2%) and additions & alterations (-0.6% vs 10.8%).

The number of building permits issued in Serbia increased 8.6% year-on-year to 2,751 in July 2026, easing from an 11.3% rise in the previous month. Building accounted for 83.6% of all permits issued, with 82% intended for residential construction and 18% for non-residential projects. The remaining 16.4% of permits were for civil engineering projects, the majority of which (73.6%) were related to pipelines, communication networks, and electrical lines. Meanwhile, a total of 4,292 dwellings were authorized for construction, of which 10% will be built in single-dwelling buildings, while 88.7% will be constructed in buildings with three or more dwellings. By region, the highest share of planned construction was recorded in the Belgrade region, at 35.5%.

US building permits rose by 4.3% month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.433 million in July 2026, below preliminary estimates of 1.433 million. Permits for buildings with five or more units surged 7.3% to 482,000, and single-family permits increased 2.5% to 894,000. Regionally, permits rose in the Midwest (10.8% to 225,000), and the South (5.6% to 748,000), but were unchanged in the West (at 308,000) and fell in the Northeast (-1.9% to 152,000).

Building plans approved in South Africa surged by 30.5% from a year ago to around 9,868 million in June 2026, following a revised 12.9% slump in the previous month. This was the strongest increase since January 2025, underpinned by a strong recovery in plans approved for non-residential buildings (136.7% vs -10.5% in May). Additional support came from residential buildings (7.8% vs -13%) and additions & alterations (8.9% vs -14.2%).

US building permits rose by 5% month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.443 million in July 2026, above market expectations of 1.37 million, preliminary figures showed. Permits for buildings with five or more units surged 9.1% to 490,000, and single-family permits increased 2.5% to 894,000. Regionally, permits rose in the Midwest (12.3% to 228,000), the South (6.6% to 755,000), and the West (0.3% to 309,000), but fell in the Northeast (-2.6% to 151,000).

The number of building permits issued in Serbia increased 11.3% year-on-year to 2,673 in June 2026, accelerating slightly from a 4.6%% rise in May. Buildings accounted for 81.3% of all permits issued, with 81.8% of these intended for residential construction and 18.7% for non-residential buildings. The remaining 18.7% of permits were for civil engineering projects, the majority of which (69.2%) were related to pipelines, communication networks, and electrical lines. A total of 3,873 dwellings were authorized for construction. Of these, 11.3% will be built in single-dwelling buildings, while 87.6% will be constructed in buildings with three or more dwellings. By region, the highest share of planned construction was recorded in the Belgrade region (46.6%).

US building permits fell 2.6% month over month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.374 million in June 2026, according to final data, slightly above the preliminary estimate of 1.367 million. Despite the upward revision, permit issuance remained at a three-month low, highlighting persistent weakness in the housing market as elevated mortgage rates and a growing inventory of unsold new homes continue to weigh on construction activity. Permits for multifamily buildings with five or more units declined 3.1% to 502,000, while single-family permits dropped 2.2% to 872,000, their lowest level in ten months. Regionally, permitting activity decreased in the South (-7.1% to 708,000) and the West (-4.3% to 308,000), while the Midwest (5.2% to 203,000) and the Northeast (16.5% to 155,000) recorded gains.

The value of building plans approved in South Africa declined 13.1% year-on-year to ZAR 8,021.9 million in May 2026, reversing a 16.9% increase in the previous month. The decline was broad-based across all categories, with the highest decline in non-residential buildings, plunging 10.5% after a 43.5% gain. Residential building approvals also decreased 13.4%, following an 18.0% rise. Meanwhile, additions and alterations also fell, contracting further to 14.2% from 2.2%.

US building permits dropped by 3% month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.367 million in June 2026, below the market expectations of 1.40 million, preliminary figures showed. Higher mortgage rates and a backlog of unsold new homes likely acted as a drag. Permits for buildings with five or more units slipped 4.9% to 445,000, and single-family permits fell 2.4% to 871,000. Regionally, permits dropped in the South (-7.2% to 707,000) and the West (-6.2% to 302,000), but rose in the Northeast (15.8% to 154,000) and the Midwest (5.7% to 204,000).

The number of building permits issued in Serbia increased 4.6% year-on-year to 2,329 in May 2026, accelerating slightly from a 4.3% rise in April. Buildings accounted for 81.9% of all permits issued, with 81.6% of these intended for residential construction and 18.4% for non-residential buildings. The remaining 18.1% of permits were for civil engineering projects, the majority of which (77.2%) were related to pipelines, communication networks, and electrical lines. A total of 3,554 dwellings were authorized for construction. Of these, 11.4% will be built in single-dwelling buildings, while 87.0% will be constructed in buildings with three or more dwellings. By region, the highest share of planned construction was recorded in the Belgrade region (27.4%) and Zajecar (20.6%).

US building permits decreased 0.9% month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.410 million in June 2026, below the preliminary estimates of 1.413 million, final figures showed. Permits for buildings with five or more units fell 4.7% to 468,000, while single-family permits increased 1.2% to 892,000. Regionally, permits dropped in the Midwest (-18.9% to 193,000), but rose in the Northeast (2.3% to 133,000), the South (1.9% to 762,000) and in the West (4.9% to 322,000).

The value of building plans approved in South Africa climbed by 16.9% year-on-year to ZAR 8513.5 million in April 2026, following an upwardly revised 17.2% jump in the prior month. Non-residential buildings (43.5% vs 3.3%) and residential construction (18% vs 27.3%) posted strong increases, more than offsetting a decline in additions and alterations (-2.2% vs 10.2%).

US building permits decreased 0.7% month-over-month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.413 million in May 2026, below the market expectations of 1.42 million, preliminary figures showed. Permits for buildings with five or more units fell 3.5% to 474,000, while single-family permits increased 0.6% to 886,000. Regionally, permits dropped in the Midwest (-18.1% to 195,000), but rose in the Northeast (3.1% to 134,000), the South (1.6% to 760,000) and in the West (5.5% to 324,000).

The number of building permits in Serbia increased by 4.3% year-on-year to 2,416 in April 2026, slowing from 19.3% growth in the previous month. Building construction permits accounted for the majority of total permits at 82.4%. Within this category, residential buildings represented 80.3% of permits, while non-residential buildings made up the remaining 19.7%. A total of 2,657 dwellings were authorized for construction, with 15.2% planned in single-dwelling buildings and 81.9% in buildings containing three or more dwellings. Among civil engineering structures, which accounted for the remaining 17.6% of total permits, the largest share related to pipelines, communication and electrical power lines at 73.6%. New construction works represented 80.4% of the total anticipated value of works. Regionally, construction activity was expected to be highest in the Belgrade region (39.8%), and the South Banat region (10%).