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Housing construction in the United States increased modestly in April, with total housing starts rising by 1.6% from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.361 million, according to the latest data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. While slightly ahead of the forecasted rate of 1.360 million, the figure remains 1.7% lower compared to April 2024.
The increase was driven by a sharp rise in multi-family housing projects, which offset a decline in single-family starts. Construction of single-family homes fell 2.1% from March to an annual rate of 927,000 units—the lowest level recorded since July 2024. Compared to the same month last year, single-family starts were down 12.0%.
In contrast, the multi-family segment recorded significant gains. Starts on buildings with five or more units climbed 11.1% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 420,000 units, the highest since December 2023. On a year-over-year basis, multi-family starts rose 28.8%, indicating renewed strength in the rental and apartment sector.
Despite April’s slight rebound, overall activity remains subdued compared to previous years, particularly in the single-family segment, where affordability concerns and elevated interest rates continue to weigh on demand.