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Bloomberg
New-home construction in the U.S. slumped more than projected in March, reflecting a broad-based retreat that showed the industry lost momentum heading into the busiest time of year.
Residential starts decreased 8.8 percent to a 1.09 million annualized rate that was the lowest since October and weaker than any forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg, Commerce Department data showed in Washington. Permits, a proxy for future construction, also dropped.
The report, following figures that showed builder sentiment was little changed in April, may raise questions about the strength of the housing rebound at a time manufacturing has barely emerged from a slump and overseas markets are cooling. Homebuilding may plod along until faster wage growth and easier credit conditions accelerate sales and encourage construction.
Survey Results
Estimates of 78 economists polled ranged from 1.12 million to 1.22 million. The previous month was revised up to 1.19 million from a 1.18 million pace.
Housing starts have see-sawed in a narrow range over the past year, signaling the residential real-estate rebound from the recession has petered out. The figures, however, can be very volatile, diminishing the significance of any one reading.
“We recommend taking the monthly housing numbers with a huge grain of salt, but there’s going to be a little more nervousness†given the weak recent data on industrial production and retail sales, Scott Brown, chief economist at Raymond James Financial Inc. in St. Petersburg, Florida, said before the report.
Fewer Permits
Permits decreased 7.7 percent to a 1.09 million annualized rate, the fewest in a year. They were projected to rise to a 1.2 million rate after 1.18 million the prior month, according to the survey median.
Construction of single-family houses dropped 9.2 percent to a 764,000 rate from 841,000 the previous month that was the strongest since October 2007.
Work on multifamily homes, such as townhouses and apartment buildings, declined 7.9 percent to an annual rate of 325,000, the fewest since February 2015. Data on these projects, which have led housing starts in recent years, can be volatile.
Starts decreased in three of four regions, led by a 25.4 percent slump in the Midwest. The Northeast was the only area to gain, jumping 61.3 percent, the report showed.
The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo index of builder sentiment held at 58 this month, where it has been since February, data showed. Readings greater than 50 mean more respondents reported good market conditions.
Advances in the measure of buyer traffic and the six-month outlook helped to cushion a drop in current sales of single-family homes.
Job Market
Progress in the job market remains a mainstay for the residential real-estate rebound. Employers added 215,000 workers to payrolls in March after a 245,000 February gain.
The jobless rate, which edged up to 5 percent as more people entered the labor force, is hovering near an eight-year low. At the same time, worker pay is yet to show a sustained acceleration.
Borrowing costs remain historically low.