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
May 01, 2026
Make Your Voice Heard: Take the Industry Pulse Check TodayAs NAHB builds toward our 100th anniversary, we’ve launched Blueprint to 100, a bold effort to strengthen and modernize the Federation. At the center of this initiative is the Industry Pulse Check — the largest listening and learning initiative in NAHB’s history. And it only works if you’re part of it.
Apr 30, 2026
Pause Work on Your Jobsites Next Week to Review Fall Prevention Safety ProceduresOSHA’s annual National Safety Stand-Down to prevent falls in construction begins Monday, May 4. Take a few minutes during the week to pause work and use valuable resources from OSHA and NAHB to educate workers on fall risks and safety procedures to help avoid preventable injuries.
Latest Economic News
Apr 30, 2026
U.S. Economy Rebounded in the First Quarter of 2026Real GDP growth accelerated in the first quarter of 2026, rebounding from a weak finish at the end of 2025, as government spending recovered following a disruptive shutdown.
Apr 29, 2026
Powell’s Chair Ends but He Keeps His Board SeatThe April meeting of the Fed’s monetary policy committee featured a lot of institutional news for a month in which the Fed kept monetary policy unchanged. The outlook for the economy and monetary policy remains unclear due to geopolitical turbulence and domestic policy uncertainty.
Apr 29, 2026
Home Building Shows Signs of Stabilization with Monthly Gain in StartsHousing construction activity strengthened in March, with a notable rebound in both single-family and multifamily starts, signaling improved builder activity despite ongoing headwinds from financing costs and affordability constraints. While the monthly gain points to renewed momentum, year-to-date trends remain mixed, particularly in the single-family sector, and permit activity suggests some caution moving forward.