Housing Starts Up 7.2% in January

More Homes Are Starting. Fewer Are Getting Approved. Here’s Why It Matters.

The U.S. government is reportingthat privately‐owned housing starts in January, 2026 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,487,000, which is 7.2% higher than December’s revised number and is 9.5% higher than one year ago. January’s rate for buildings with five units or more was 524k. Privately‐owned housing units authorized by building permits in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,376,000, which is 5.4% below than December’s revised number and is 5.8% lower than one year ago. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 453k in January.