AUGUST PERMIT NUMBERS UP 1% FROM JULY; DOWN 6% FROM AUGUST OF 2018; DOWN 5% FOR FIRST 8 MONTHS OF 2019

11 Oct AUGUST PERMIT NUMBERS UP 1% FROM JULY; DOWN 6% FROM AUGUST OF 2018; DOWN 5% FOR FIRST 8 MONTHS OF 2019

INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 1, 2019) – Statewide totals show August’s 1,531 single-family permits pulled is a 1% increase from July, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The August permits pulled this year are down 6% from the 1,624 permits pulled in August of 2018.  The single family permit numbers for 2019 are down 5% compared to the first eight months of 2018.

“Starts are slowly regaining momentum, and I expect they will continue to rise as we switch into the autumn months,” said Indiana Builders Association CEO Rick Wajda. “Affordability concerns, however, are still a prominent factor for Hoosier builders as we tackle excessive national regulatory issues and statewide labor shortages.”

Housing has been on an upswing nationally in recent months as the pace of permits and starts has been rising since spring, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

The U.S. Census Bureau releases permit data monthly for the previous month’s data. September’s permit data will be released at the end of October.