U.S. housing starts posted stronger growth at the start of 2026, with the indicator rising 7.2% month-over-month in January, up from a 6.2% increase previously recorded in November 2025. The fresh data, updated on 12 March 2026, signal a further pickup in residential construction activity as the new year began.
The month-over-month measure compares January’s housing starts with December levels, while the earlier 6.2% reading reflected November’s performance against October. The acceleration suggests that builders continued to ramp up new projects into early 2026, extending the positive momentum seen late last year.
Market participants will be watching upcoming releases closely to gauge whether this stronger pace of housing starts can be sustained, as it often serves as an early signal for broader trends in residential investment and construction-related sectors of the U.S. economy.
