US Housing Starts - November 19, 20

BCREA ECONOMICS NOW

Housing starts in the United States fell 2.8 per cent in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of

1.009 million units. However, that level was 7.8 per cent higher than October 2013. After a somewhat slow start, new home construction in the US has been trending higher for much of the second half of 2014. Housing starts have registered a more than 1 million unit SAAR pace for 2 consecutive months and in 3 of the past four months. Overall, housing starts are 9.6 per cent higher year-to-date.

The recovery in the US housing market has been the primary driver of  BC's resurgent forest products industry. Moreover, a healthy residential construction industry in the US is helping put the overall US economy on stronger footing.  Moreover, robust growth in the US over the past two quarters has helped lift BC exports in 2014 in spite of flagging performance in the global economy.