Single-family housing starts and building permits issued declined on a monthly and annual basis across the United States in April, the Census Bureau said in a May 16 statement.
Housing starts fell by 2.1 percent from March and were down 12 percent from 2024. Meanwhile, building permit authorizations fell 5.1 percent month-over-month and were down by 6.2 percent annually.
“The decline in single-family housing starts in April mirrors builder sentiment, as elevated interest rates, uncertainty on the tariff front, and rising construction costs are exacerbating housing affordability challenges,” said Buddy Hughes, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), according to a May 16 statement from the group….