May 15, 2025

New Residential Construction

U.S. Housing Starts Jump in February, While Permits and Completions Decline Slightly

The annual rate for housing units authorized in permit-issuing places in February was 1,456,000 units, slightly below the January rate of 1,473,000 units, representing a decrease of approximately 1.2%. Single-family authorizations in February totaled 992,000 units, reflecting a slight 0.2% decrease from the previous month. By region, single-family authorizations declined significantly in the Midwest and the West, by 4.5% and 7.5%, respectively.

The annual rate for housing units started in February was 1,501,000 units, 11% higher than the previous month. Nationwide, single-family housing starts totaled 1,180,000 units, also reflecting an 11% monthly increase. This rise was largely driven by increases in the South and Northeast regions.

The annual rate of housing units completed in February was 1,592,000 units, down from 1,659,000 in January. This decline was primarily influenced by reductions in the Northeast and West. However, single-family completions in February totaled 1,066,000 units, slightly up from 995,000 in January. All regions recorded increases, with the Northeast showing the highest rise.

According to monthly U.S. data for February, 106,000 housing units were permitted, 111,100 units were started, 1,389,400 units were under construction, and 115,600 units were completed—bringing the total to 1,997,800 housing units. This figure was slightly higher than January’s total of 1,990,200. The number of detached house constructions in February was 995,100, marginally above January’s figure of 976,100.

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.