US Building Permits Higher than Expected

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).

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.

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).