US housing starts for September due 20 October: what the Census release will show
The Census Bureau publishes September new residential construction on 20 October. Starts and permits for August were both lower than in July.
The Census Bureau publishes new residential construction for September 2026 on 20 October, according to its release schedule. The release gives housing starts, building permits and completions, all seasonally adjusted at annual rates.
The last release
The August figures, published in September, showed starts down about 2.6% from July, driven by a fall in multifamily projects. Permits fell, with declines in single-family and multifamily units (August report).
What to watch
Starts are volatile from month to month, and the multifamily category often drives the headline. Permits are usually a better guide to the next few months of activity, because they come before construction starts. The single-family line is the one most closely tied to mortgage rates.
Why it matters for the dollar
Housing responds to mortgage rates, which follow the 10-year Treasury yield. That yield fell from 5.31% on 5 October to 5.09% on 16 October (yields report), which may support construction later, though the effect takes months. For the broader housing context, see US new home sales for August. Live prices: EUR/USD.
Sources
Common questions
When does the Census Bureau publish September housing starts?
The release is scheduled for 20 October 2026, according to the Census Bureau's construction release schedule.
Why do building permits matter for housing starts?
Permits are issued before construction begins, so they often point to the next few months of starts.
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