US SINGLE - FAMILY HOUSING STARTS PLUNGE ; BUILDING PERMITS HIT 3 - 1 / 2 - YEAR LOW

What happened: US single-family housing starts fell sharply in September and building permits dropped to a 3-1/2-year low, as higher mortgage rates suppressed demand. Key numbers: Single-family starts fell 4.6% to an 859,000 annual rate, lowest since September 2025. Single-family permits fell 4.0% to 845,000, lowest since March 2023. Why it matters: The data suggest residential investment resumed its declining trend in the third quarter, and builder sentiment fell in October to its lowest since June 2012. Economists quoted expect starts to keep faltering.

US single-family housing starts fell sharply in September and building permits dropped to a 3-1/2-year low, as higher mortgage rates suppressed demand.

The data suggest residential investment resumed its declining trend in the third quarter, and builder sentiment fell in October to its lowest since June 2012. Economists quoted expect starts to keep faltering.