Highlights
Housing starts looked good for November but most of the gain was largely a comeback and then some in multifamily starts-a volatile component. The single-family component posted only a partial rebound. Construction companies picked up the pace of groundbreaking for new homes as housing starts in November rebounded 8.9 percent, following a revised 10.1 percent plummet in October. The November pace of 0.574 million units annualized came in right at the market forecast for 0.575 million units and was down 12.4 percent on a year-ago basis. The latest comeback was led by a 67.3 percent rebound in multifamily starts, following a sharp 29.5 percent plunge in October. Meanwhile the single-family component edged up 2.1 percent after a 7.1 percent fall the month before.

By region, the November rebound in starts was led by 16.4 percent rebound in the Northeast with gains also seen in the South, up 12.3 percent; Midwest, up 3.0 percent; and West, up 1.9 percent.

Homebuilders are modestly optimistic about ramping up the pace of construction as housing permits in November rebounded 6.0 percent after falling 4.2 percent in October. October's pace of 0.552 million units annualized was down 24.3 percent on a year-ago basis.

Today's housing starts report is good but should be seen in the context of October's weak numbers. The two months together indicate that housing is in a slow recovery. The bad news is that the recovery is slow. But the good news is that the housing construction recovery is slow-anything more robust at this point would not be sustainable.

Market Consensus Before Announcement
Housing starts in October unexpectedly dropped 10.6 percent, following a 1.9 percent gain the month before. The fall in October was led by a 34.6 percent plunge in multifamily starts but the single-family component also slipped-by 6.8 percent.

2009 Release Schedule

Released On: 1/22 2/18 3/17 4/16 5/19 6/16 7/17 8/18 9/17 10/20 11/18 12/16 Released For: Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov