U.S. Housing Starts Slumped in March by the Most Since 1984

Bloomberg

Published Apr 16, 2020 14:34

Updated Apr 16, 2020 14:54

(Bloomberg) -- New U.S. home construction declined in March from the previous month by the most since 1984 as the pandemic started to take a bigger toll on the housing market and broader economy.

Residential starts decreased 22.3% to an eight-month low of 1.22 million annualized rate, according to a government report released Thursday. The median forecast in a Bloomberg survey called for a 1.3 million pace. Applications to build, a proxy for future construction, fell 6.8% to a 1.35 million rate.

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