National Association of Home Builders Economic Research Blog

Inflation Persisted in August
Inflation Persisted in August
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Inflation in August remained sticky as renewed tensions with Iran continued pushing up oil prices, keeping pressure on the Fed to consider a rate hike at its upcoming meeting. Gasoline ...
Existing Home Sales Fall despite Improved Inventory
Existing Home Sales Fall despite Improved Inventory
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Existing home sales fell for the third consecutive month as record-high home prices and elevated mortgage rates weighed on buyers. Mortgage rates resumed an upward trend after the July ceasefire ...
Energy Prices Rise Again in August
Energy Prices Rise Again in August
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Residential building material prices, excluding energy, rose 0.2% in August and were up 5.1% from a year ago. Energy prices rose sharply in August, as prices for energy inputs to ...
Mortgage Applications Decline for Sixth Straight Month in August
Mortgage Applications Decline for Sixth Straight Month in August
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Mortgage application activity continued to decline in August as elevated US treasury yields pushed mortgage rates higher. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage ...
Who Are NAHB’s Builder Members?
Who Are NAHB’s Builder Members?
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The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) conducts an annual census to better understand the composition and characteristics of its members.  In 2025, 35% of NAHB’s membership was comprised of ...
Single-Family Home Construction Time Declines in 2025
Single-Family Home Construction Time Declines in 2025
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Building a new single-family home took less time in 2025 compared to the previous three years. On average, it now takes 8.8 months from start to finish. That time includes ...
Shorter Apartment Construction Time in 2025
Shorter Apartment Construction Time in 2025
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The average time needed to complete construction of a multifamily building after obtaining authorization edged down in 2025, according to the 2025 Survey of Construction (SOC) from the Census Bureau. ...
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NAHB analysis of the Current Population Survey’s (CPS) 2020 Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) estimates the national homeownership rate at 66.4%. This analysis provides a further breakdown of this rate through the lens of married couple homeownership, which we estimate at 79% for 2020....

According to the latest May 2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) and analysis by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), half of payroll workers in construction earn more than $49,070 and the top 25% make at least $75,820....

NAHB analysis of Census Construction Spending data shows that total private residential construction spending rose 1.1% in February after an increase of 1.1% in January. Spending stood at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $850.6 billion. Total private residential construction spending was 16.6% higher than...

In the past month, total mortgage activity, as measured by the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, underwent a series of weekly declines, decreasing in the latest week by 6.3 percent. The latest week’s survey is for the week ending April 1. The latest...

In the fourth quarter of 2021, the market shares of single-family and multifamily home building in rural submarkets, as identified by NAHB’s Home Building Geography Index (HBGI), increased from the fourth quarter of 2020. Evolving market conditions were primarily responsible for the market share gains....

Compared to a year ago, average hourly earnings for residential building workers continue to rise, as the construction labor market remains tight. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report, average hourly earnings (AHE) for residential building workers were $28.66 in February 2022, increasing...

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 431,000 in March, and the unemployment rate fell to 3.6% from 3.8%. The labor market recovery is continuing, as employment in some sectors, such as professional and business services, financial activities, and retail sectors, is now above pre-pandemic levels....

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in 2021 as the economy continued to recover from the COVID-19 crisis. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the percent change increase in real GDP ranged from...

Among first-time buyers, both a shower stall and tub in the primary bath ranked as the most popular of the 18 bathroom features listed in the NAHB study, What Home Buyers Really Want, 2021 Edition. The study asked first-time, as well as repeat, home buyers...

After dropping to a one-year low last month, consumer confidence rebounded slightly in March as strong job growth offset consumer’s concerns about the Ukraine crisis and decades-high inflation. The Consumer Confidence Index, reported by the Conference Board, rose 1.5 points from 105.7 to 107.2 in...

The construction labor market remains tight, as the industry sees a rising number of job openings year-over-year. The count of open construction jobs remained steady at 381,000 unfilled positions in February. The highest measure in the history of the data series (going back to late...

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 48 states and the District of Columbia in February compared to the previous month while Arkansas and Alaska lost jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nationwide total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 678,000 in February, following a gain...

Much like other home buyers, those buying their first homes rate double sinks and walk-in pantries as the most popular of 30 kitchen features listed in the recent NAHB study, What Home Buyers Really Want, 2021 Edition. In the study, first-time (and other) home buyers...

New single-family home sales posted a second monthly decline in February as housing demand was affected by a jump in mortgage rates. After starting at 3.1% in December, rates increased to 3.45% in January and 3.76% in February, per Freddie Mac. Additionally, builders continue to...

Among first-time home buyers, a laundry room ranked as the most popular of the more than 200 home and community features listed in the recent NAHB study, What Home Buyers Really Want, 2021 Edition. The study is based on a nationwide survey of 3,247 recent...

NAHB analysis of the Census Bureau’s quarterly tax data shows that $672.5 billion in taxes were paid by property owners in the four quarters ending Q4 2021 (not seasonally adjusted), a 1.0% quarterly increase.[1] Four-quarter property tax revenues declined 0.6% in Q3 2021, the second...

As rising mortgage rates and home prices continued to price out homebuyers and reduce affordability, existing home sales dropped to a six-month low in February, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Furthermore, home price appreciation is expected to slow in the coming quarters...

Single-family starts posted a small increase in February, as lack of resale inventory continues to support housing demand despite higher interest rates. The availability of materials, lumber, labor and lots remain key headwinds, with access to labor in particular likely to become more challenging in...

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