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FinVolio

Economy · United States · Housing

US building permits

1,403k in August 2026, compared with 1,433k in July 2026.

Monthly · thousand homes a year · 1,347k a year earlier · Updated 11 hrs ago

Next: Housing starts and building permits, Tue, 20 Oct, 11:30pm Sydney time (usual time)

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Range, past 10 years52-week and 10-year range The lowest and highest values over a period, with a marker for where the latest value sits between them. Learn more
1,079k Apr 20201,923k Jan 2022
Over 3 monthsYear on year, month on month, quarter on quarter How a figure compares with the same period a year earlier (y/y), or with the period just before (m/m, q/q). Year-on-year removes seasonal swings; shorter comparisons show turning points sooner. Learn more
−0.5%from 1,410k
Over 12 monthsPercentage points and basis points The difference between two percentages. A rate rising from 4.00% to 4.25% is up 0.25 percentage points, or 25 basis points; it is not up 0.25%. Learn more
+4.2%from 1,347k
Long-run averageLong-run average The average of every reading in the series' history. A rough guide to what is normal, though economies change and some series never return to their old average. Learn more
1,381ksince 1999
Against its historyPercentile against history Where the latest reading ranks among every reading since the series began. The 90th percentile means it is higher than 90% of past readings. Learn more
47thpercentile: higher than 47% of readings since 1999

HistorySeasonally adjusted A figure with the regular calendar pattern removed (Christmas, school holidays, harvests), so one month can be compared fairly with the next. Learn more

thousand homes a year, monthly

Show the data
Periodthousand homes a year
August 20261,403k
July 20261,433k
June 20261,374k
May 20261,410k
April 20261,423k
March 20261,363k
February 20261,540k
January 20261,393k
December 20251,482k
November 20251,414k
October 20251,418k
September 20251,444k
August 20251,347k
July 20251,400k
June 20251,399k
May 20251,416k
April 20251,445k
March 20251,492k
February 20251,446k
January 20251,463k
December 20241,467k
November 20241,512k
October 20241,435k
September 20241,421k

The latest 24 readings in this range.

Source: FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, series PERMIT. Data from January 1999.

Next releaseFinVolio estimates FinVolio's own estimate of what an upcoming release will show, from a stated statistical rule and, where available, an AI estimate with its reasoning. Not a consensus forecast and not advice. Learn more

Tue, 20 Oct, 11:30pm Sydney time (usual time) · Housing starts and building permits, for September 2026

AI estimateFinVolio estimates FinVolio's own estimate of what an upcoming release will show, from a stated statistical rule and, where available, an AI estimate with its reasoning. Not a consensus forecast and not advice. Learn moreclaude-sonnet-5-51,405krange 1,330k to 1,485k
Model estimate80% range A band that the actual figure should land inside about four times in five. If actuals fall outside it more often than one time in five, the estimate is overconfident. Learn morelast reading plus half the recent trend1,402krange 1,315k to 1,489k
Last reading1,403kAugust 2026

Permits have hovered around 1,400 for the past year (the last 6 months average about 1,400) with noisy month-to-month swings of roughly ±50. A 7.40% mortgage rate caps upside, while new home sales at 684k and a PMI of 54.5 limit the downside, so I stay close to the baseline.

Estimates are FinVolio's own, made from this series and related indicators. They are not a consensus forecast and not advice.

What it measures

New private homes authorised by building permits, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate.

Why it matters

Permits come before construction, so they lead housing activity and the demand for materials such as timber and steel.