
Construction Labor Market Softens
The count of open, unfilled positions in the construction industry decreased in August, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The decline occurred as home building

The count of open, unfilled positions in the construction industry decreased in August, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The decline occurred as home building

In 2024, approximately 43,000 homes were built in age-restricted communities, representing just over 3% of all housing starts. According to the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction, roughly three-quarters of these

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in 48 states in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Mississippi and

In the second quarter of 2025, property tax revenue for state and local governments recorded a new high, although it decreased as a share of total tax revenue. . On

Average mortgage rates in September trended lower as the bond market priced in expectations of rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged

Existing home sales dipped in August as elevated mortgage rates and higher home prices continued to sideline buyers, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). August sales reflected deals

A modest drop in mortgage rates led to a surprisingly large jump in new home sales in August, though the figure may be revised downward in the coming month. Sales

The NAHB Land Acquisition, Development and Construction (AD&C) loan survey in the second quarter reported tightening credit conditions for builders. Consequently, FDIC data reporting the outstanding volume of 1-4 family

In August, the official, or standardly referenced, unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.3%, up from 4.2% in July. This marks the highest level in nearly four years, though it remains

Building a new single-family home took less time in 2024 compared to the previous two years. On average, it now takes 9.1 months from start to finish. That includes 1.4

The latest government state employment report paints a mixed picture of the job market. While a few states saw modest employment gains, most areas showed little to no progress. The

Every year since 2008, the NAHB has conducted a member census in order to better understand the composition and characteristics of the people who belong to its organization. Similar to

In 2024, the number of women employed in the construction industry rose to around 1.34 million. Women now represent 11.2% of the construction workforce, the highest share in the past

After a monetary policy pause that began at the start of 2025, the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy committee (FOMC) voted to reduce the short-term federal funds rate by 25 basis

Challenging affordability conditions continue to act as headwinds for the housing industry, but the sector could see lower interest rates in the near future with the Federal Reserve expected to cut

Builder sentiment levels remained unchanged in September but lower mortgage rates and expectations that the Federal Reserve will soon cut the federal funds rate led to higher future sale expectations

Inflation accelerated to a seven month high in August as tariff-related costs continued to pass through to consumers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) latest report. Core goods

Single-family housing permits slipped for the seventh month in a row, highlighting affordability headwinds and weak demand. While multifamily permits ticked up, the sector’s volatility leaves the outlook uncertain. The