US building permits declined 2.6% month over month in June 2026 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.374 million, according to final data, slightly above the preliminary estimate of 1.367 million. Despite this modest upward revision, permits remained at a three-month low, underscoring ongoing softness in the housing market as elevated mortgage rates and a growing inventory of unsold new homes continue to dampen construction activity.
By segment, permits for multifamily buildings with five or more units fell 3.1% to 502,000, while single-family permits dropped 2.2% to 872,000, the lowest level in ten months.
Regionally, permitting activity declined in the South (-7.1% to 708,000) and the West (-4.3% to 308,000), whereas the Midwest (5.2% to 203,000) and the Northeast (16.5% to 155,000) posted gains.
