US Building Permits Edge Down in October

US building permits edged down 0.3% in October 2025 to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 1.411 million, broadly in line with the preliminary estimate of 1.412 million and slightly below September’s 1.415 million. Single-family permits fell 0.2% to 878,000, while permits for buildings with five or more units also declined 0.2% to 478,000. Regionally, permits dropped in the South (-3.6% to 729,000) and the Midwest (-2.5% to 198,000), remained unchanged in the Northeast (147,000), but surged 9.1% in the West to 337,000.

Building permits in the United States decreased by 0.2% to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 1.412 million in October 2025, following a 6.4% rise in September. Single-family permits decreased by 0.5% to an annualized rate of 876 thousand, while permits for buildings with five or more units increased by 0.4% to 481 thousand. Regionally, permits declined in the Northeast (-1.4% to 145 thousand), the Midwest (-2% to 199 thousand), and in the South (-3.3% to 731 thousand), but increased in the West (9.1% to 337 thousand).

Building permits in the United States fell by 2.3% to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 1.330 million in August 2025, revised up from a preliminary estimate of 1.312 million. Despite the revision, this remains the lowest level since May 2020. Single-family permits decreased by 1.9% to an annualized rate of 858 thousand, while permits for buildings with five or more units dropped by 2.8% to 420 thousand. Regionally, permits declined in the Northeast (-3.2% to 121 thousand), the Midwest (-8.6% to 202 thousand), and in the South (-5.8% to 699 thousand), but increased in the West (12.4% to 308 thousand).