Should we be concerned that starts are outstripping sales?

Housing starts have risen by 37% over the past year, but new home sales have only increased by 9%. Rather than being a sign that speculative overbuilding has returned however, this gap reflects the fact that the starts numbers are picking up the strength of the rental sector but the sales figures are not.

Subscriber content

Read this in full, free

Start a free trial and use one of your 10 free starter credits to unlock this piece.


Free. 10 articles. No card required.
By completing this form you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions for the provision of a free trial of Capital Economics' services. We take your privacy seriously and will not share your details with others without your consent. By providing your details, including your email address, you are consenting to Capital Economics sending you macroeconomic commentary and analysis. You can unsubscribe at any time. See our Privacy Policy for more information.

Already a client or trialist? Log in to read this.