According to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Home Building Geography Index (HBGI), single-family construction declined across nearly all major metros in Q2 2026. The data reported that densely populated metro counties continued their fifth quarter of decline and fell 13.9%. However, the decline was not as steep compared to the previous quarter’s 15.8%. The smaller markets, noted as outlying counties in small metro areas and the microcounty, saw improvements. The outlying counties in small metro areas grew for the first time in a year, posting a reasonable 0.9%…
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Construction job openings rise to 326,000 in July
Construction sector jobs increased again in July, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey. However, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) analysis is skeptical that a majority of the work is in residential construction. The positive is that construction jobs are up more than the previous month, at 326,000 in July compared to the June increase of 298,000. Notably, July’s postings are stronger than last’s year’s numbers of 305,000 jobs. Hiring in July increased from 3.8% to 4.4% and layoffs plateaued at 1.9%, while the…
Read MoreHere’s what 20 years of data reveals about remodeling industry
New research from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies analyzed 20 years’ worth of data within the remodeling industry. According to the analysis, U.S. remodeling activity increased significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2023, homeowners spent over $600 billion annually making improvements, replacing broken systems, repairing damage or conducting routine maintenance on their properties, up from $400 billion in 2019. As for industry growth, the number of residential remodeling contractor establishments grew by a quarter between 2017 and 2022, reaching over 128,000 businesses. The geographic distribution of remodeling establishments…
Read MorePending home sales soften as summer winds down
According to a new Redfin analysis, home buying is softening as summer winds down. Pending home sales fell 1.3% week over week, while new U.S. home listings rose 1.2%. Home-buying demand remains strong in California’s Bay Area and South Florida. However, an opportunity remains as summer winds down: New home listings and slower demand could draw out more potential home buyers. Touring activity remains up 10% from the start of the year, as of Aug. 15, 2026. “Some homeowners have been waiting for mortgage rates to fall and demand to…
Read MorePending home sale tour activity up 12%
According to a Redfin analysis, as of Aug. 8, 2026, touring activity for pending home sales is up 12% from the start of the year. U.S. pending home sales edged up 0.4% week over week during the four weeks leading up to August 9 on a seasonally adjusted basis, offering a boost to this summer’s slow housing market. Pending sales remain lower, but the latest weekly uptick may reflect normal week-to-week changes, showing signs of a steadying market. On a year-over-year basis, pending sales are down 1.6%. While rising mortgage rates…
Read MoreABC’s Construction Backlog Indicator decreases in July
On Aug. 11, 2026, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) reported that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.0 months in July 2026. The data originates from an ABC member survey conducted from July 20 to Aug. 4. The reading is down 0.8 months from both a month ago and a year ago. “Backlog fell sharply in July and is down to the lowest level since January,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “The data center boom masks the depth of this weakness, as there is a lack of momentum in…
Read MoreRemodeling spending outpaces the rest of residential construction
New data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicated that private residential spending decreased by 0.03% in June. Remodeling and home improvement was the only sector to increase in June, but only by 0.01%. In May, the remodeling sector contributed to the overall bump in construction spending. It was then revised to a 0.4% decline. Compared to a year ago, private spending for remodeling is down 7.2%. Despite the decrease, overall sentiment for remodeling remains positive with continued demand. “In contrast, improvement spending has been on an upward trend since 2023, supported…
Read MoreConstruction job openings increase 36% from 2025
According to data from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), jobs in the construction industry are growing at a faster pace. ABC’s analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) reported that job openings in construction increased by 14,000 last month and by 81,000 year over year. While an increase in jobs is a positive headline for the industry, ABC Chief Economist noted that the data is more nuanced. “Interpreting these data is often challenging,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “One could take…
Read MoreRemodeling spending expected to slow down
According to new data from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, annual spending on home improvements and repairs is expected to slow down until mid-2027. The latest Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) suggests this will lead to a third straight quarter of decelerating year-over-year growth, with spending projected to be $519 billion through mid-2027. “Growth in remodeling permitting and retail spending on building products has flattened recently, suggesting that renovation activity is cooling,” said Rachel Bogardus Drew, Director of the Remodeling Futures Program at the Center. “Reduced housing…
Read MoreHome accessibility upgrades fuel renovation boom
Home accessibility modifications are driving a renovation boom as homeowners bring multiple generations of family under one roof. Instead of a simple kitchen refresh, clients are prioritizing grab bars, wider doorways and walk-in showers that serve toddlers and elders alike. The most requested upgrades tend to focus on the rooms where families spend the most time and where safety risks run highest, including curb-less walk-in showers, wider doorways, lever-style doorknobs instead of round knobs and lighting improvements. Multigenerational household renovation has become common as more families choose to combine resources…
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