US Building Permits Exceed Expectations, Yet Property Sector Remains Under Pressure

The number of building permits for new construction in the United States (US) fell by 0.2% month-on-month to 1.40 million units in September 2026. Despite this decline, the figure surpassed market expectations of 1.39 million units. Permits for single-family homes dropped by 4% to 845,000 units, while permits for buildings with five or more housing units rose by 5.9% to 503,000 units. Regionally, the largest decline occurred in the West (down 10.2%), whereas the Northeast recorded the highest increase (up 13.3%).

The better-than-expected data suggests that the US property sector retains some resilience, even as demand for single-family homes continues to face pressure. This situation could provide limited support for the US dollar, as it indicates that economic activity has not fully weakened. However, the overall decline in building permits also signals that the housing sector still requires a recovery. Investors are now closely monitoring upcoming economic data ahead of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision, which could influence the movement of the US dollar and global gold prices.

Source: Newsmaker.id