Housing Starts in U.S. Surged in July by Most Since 2016

Bloomberg

Published Aug 18, 2020 13:35

Updated Aug 18, 2020 13:54

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. home construction starts increased in July by more than forecast, indicating builders are responding to robust housing demand fueled by record-low interest rates.

Residential starts jumped by 22.6%, the most since October 2016, to an 1.5 million annualized rate from a month earlier, according to a government report released Tuesday. That compared with the median forecast in a Bloomberg survey of 1.25 million and followed an upwardly revised 1.22 million in June.

Applications to build, a proxy for future construction, increased 18.8% to a 1.5 million rate, topping the median estimate for 1.33 million.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.