US housing starts fell 2.6% month-over-month in August 2026 to a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 1.275 million units, the lowest level since October of the previous year. This compares with 1.309 million units in July and falls short of market expectations of 1.31 million.
By segment, multifamily starts plunged 22.5% to 344,000 units, while single-family starts rose 7.6% to 918,000 units.
Regionally, housing starts declined in the Northeast (down 44.5% to 96,000 units), the Midwest (down 12% to 198,000 units), and the South (down 1.3% to 658,000 units), but increased sharply in the West (up 32.4% to 323,000 units).
