Podcast: Has the Housing Upturn Begun?
In the latest episode of the Housing Developments podcast, NAHB CEO Jim Tobin and SVP Paul Lopez discuss two positive economic indices released this week: housing starts had a huge jump in May and builder confidence is in positive territory for the first time in 11 months. The co-hosts discuss the reality that these developments represent, including what this means for the inflationary environment in advance of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s testimony on Capitol Hill.
Listen to Housing Developments wherever you get your podcasts, or watch a video of the full episode below.
Editor’s note: Find more in-depth analyses on starts and builder sentiment data on NAHB’s economics blog, Eye on Housing.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Jun 02, 2026
Economic Uncertainty Slows Single-Family Construction Across All GeographiesSingle-family home construction declined across all geographic regions in the first quarter of 2026 due to economic uncertainty, high material costs and elevated interest rates, while multifamily construction showed growth in most areas, according to the latest findings from the NAHB Home Building Geography Index (HBGI).
Safety
Jun 01, 2026
Focus on Jobsite Plans During National Safety MonthJoin NAHB and its official safety sponsor, Builders Mutual, in recognizing June as National Safety Month, an annual observance to promote hazard awareness in residential construction and to help keep workers safe.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Jun 02, 2026
Slight Increase for Construction Job OpeningsThe number of open positions in the construction sector edged higher in April, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS).
Economics
Jun 02, 2026
HBGI Q1 2026: Single-Family Construction Slips Across All GeographiesSingle-family construction declined across all geographies in the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest Home Building Geography Index (HBGI), as elevated interest rates, rising material costs, and labor shortages slowed home building activities at the start of the year. Meanwhile, multifamily construction remained broadly resilient, posting growth in most markets.
Economics
Jun 01, 2026
Private Residential Construction Spending Increases in AprilPrivate residential construction spending was up 0.8% in April 2026, following the monthly gain of 0.6% in March. This increase was largely driven by gains in single-family, and home improvement spending. Moreover, total private residential construction spending was 1.7% higher than a year ago.