WS News
17 Sep 2026, 13:46
U.S. Housing Starts Fall in August While Philadelphia Manufacturing Beats Forecast
U.S. housing activity weakened in August, with housing starts falling 2.6% month over month to an annualized 1.275 million units. The headline figure came below the 1.320 million market forecast, pointing to continued pressure on residential construction.
Building permits, a forward-looking indicator for future construction, came in at 1.394 million, slightly below expectations of 1.400 million.
At the same time, manufacturing data were stronger. The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index registered 37.8 in September, beating the 31.3 consensus estimate, although it slowed from 47.4 previously.
The data present a mixed picture for the U.S. economy: housing remains under pressure from elevated borrowing costs and affordability constraints, while regional manufacturing activity continues to show relatively strong expansion.
U.S. housing activity weakened in August, with housing starts falling 2.6% month over month to an annualized 1.275 million units. The headline figure came below the 1.320 million market forecast, pointing to continued pressure on residential construction.
Building permits, a forward-looking indicator for future construction, came in at 1.394 million, slightly below expectations of 1.400 million.
At the same time, manufacturing data were stronger. The Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index registered 37.8 in September, beating the 31.3 consensus estimate, although it slowed from 47.4 previously.
The data present a mixed picture for the U.S. economy: housing remains under pressure from elevated borrowing costs and affordability constraints, while regional manufacturing activity continues to show relatively strong expansion.
