Inflation Surges to a Nearly 40-Year High in November
Inflation posted its largest jump in nearly 40 years in November, up 6.8% year over year. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the CPI rose 0.8% in November compared with October. This marks the largest 12-month increase since June 1982.
Supply-chain constraints and strong consumer demand related to the pandemic and the reopening of the economy have contributed to recent price increases in some sectors. In some areas, costs have increased at an even more rapid clip. For example, the average price of major appliances is up almost 27% since January 2020.
NAHB is still forecasting inflation to ease somewhat next year, although the rate will remain well above the Federal Reserve's 2% target.
NAHB economist Jing Fu provides more analysis in this Eye on Housing blog post.
Latest from NAHBNow
IBS | Awards
Jan 21, 2026
NAHB Announces 2026 Best of IBS FinalistsMore than 300 product entries in nine categories were judged by 42 industry and media representatives. See which products were selected as finalists in the 2026 Best of IBS Awards.
Trends
Jan 21, 2026
Single-Family Home Size Continues to DeclineThe market could see a leveling off of home size trends in 2026 as mortgage interest rates approach 6% on a sustained basis.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Jan 21, 2026
Private Residential Construction Spending Edges Higher in October on Home ImprovementsPrivate residential construction spending was up 1.3% in October, rebounding from a 1.4% decline in September 2025. This modest gain was primarily driven by increased spending on home improvements.
Economics
Jan 21, 2026
Single-Family Permits Cooled in the FallIn October, single-family building permits weakened, reflecting continued caution among builders amid affordability constraints and financing challenges. In contrast, multifamily permit activity remained steady and continued to perform relatively well.
Economics
Jan 20, 2026
New Single-Family Home Size Trends: Third Quarter 2025New single-family home size has been generally falling since 2015 as a response to declining affordability conditions. An exception occurred when new home size increased in 2021 as interest rates reached historic lows. However, as interest rates increased in 2022 and 2023, and housing affordability worsened, the demand for home size has trended lower.