New single-family home construction fell 9% in April to a 930,000 annual rate, down 2.4% from last year, while total housing starts rose due to an 11.5% increase in multifamily units. Single-family permits dropped 2.6%. Builders face inflation, rising labor costs, and declining home prices, leading to tighter margins and cautious market behavior. The Midwest shows more stability, but overall single-family building is expected to remain under pressure.


