Oct 03, 2025
Housing Activity Slows in August as Permits and Starts Decline, Completions Rise
In August, privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,330,000, down 2.3% from the July rate of 1,362,000 and 9.9% below the August 2024 level of 1,476,000. Single-family authorizations were at 858,000, a 1.1% decline from July’s 875,000. Permits for buildings with five units or more stood at 420,000.
Privately-owned housing starts in August came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,307,000, down 8.5% from July’s estimate of 1,429,000 and 6.0% below the August 2024 figure of 1,391,000. Single-family starts were at 890,000, a 7.0% decrease from July’s 957,000. Starts for buildings with five units or more were reported at 403,000.
Privately-owned housing completions reached a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,608,000 in August, an 8.4% increase from July’s 1,483,000 but 8.4% below the August 2024 level of 1,755,000. Single-family completions totaled 1,090,000, up 6.7% from July’s 1,022,000. Completions of units in buildings with five units or more were at 503,000.
Description: New residential construction statistics include data on housing units authorized by building permits, housing starts, units under construction, and completions. Reported on both a monthly and seasonally adjusted annualized basis, they highlight trends in single-family and multi-family construction across regions. This data serves as a leading economic indicator, reflecting demand for housing, consumer confidence, and broader economic conditions.
