Framing Contractors NAICS 238130

Jul 7, 2025 - New Single-Family Home Sales Plummet

• New single-family home sales fell 13.7% month-over-month and were down 6.3% year-over-year in May 2025, according to the US Census Bureau. May’s total new home sales reached 623,000 units. According to Dow Jones estimates, Wall Street analysts had expected May sales to reach 695,000. In recent quarterly reports, some homebuilders said high interest rates and weaker consumer confidence weighed on demand. As sales of new homes remain soft, inventories of unsold homes are increasing. At the end of May, there were 507,000 new homes for sale, up 15% compared to May 2024. The number of unsold new homes in May was the highest since the summer of 2022, after the Federal Reserve began increasing interest rates.
• Home builder confidence in the single-family market dropped in June to the lowest level since December 2022 amid high mortgage rates, tariff concerns, and increased economic uncertainty, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Home builder sentiment, as measured by the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), fell two points to 32 in June 2025. Any HMI reading over 50 indicates that more builders see conditions as good than poor. The HMI survey also showed that 37% of builders have reduced home prices to lure potential buyers off the sidelines, although the average price reduction of 5% has remained unchanged since November 2024.

• The total value of nonresidential building starts rose 18% in May, according to Dodge Construction Network. Commercial construction starts increased 28% amid stronger activity in the retail, office, and warehouse subsectors. Healthcare helped boost institutional starts to 19% growth in May over April. Manufacturing starts were down 13%. Dodge Construction Network associate director of forecasting Sarah Martin said, “Construction starts rebounded across most sectors in May, bouncing back from a sluggish April. However, year-to-date figures remain below last year’s pace. Ongoing uncertainty around trade policy and the economic outlook is likely to keep construction activity in check in the months ahead.”
• Demand for building design services improved in May over the prior month, but architectural billings remain soft, according to a June report by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The AIA’s Architecture Billing Index (ABI) rose to 47.2 in May 2025 from April’s reading of 43.2. Any reading of 50 or more indicates growth in architectural billings. The score for new project inquiries rose to 51.4 in May compared to 48.0 in April, and the index for the value of new design contracts increased from 43.3 to 45.9. The AIA’s Chief Economist, Kermit Baker said, “Business conditions remained sluggish nationwide in May, with nonresidential construction activity continuing to decline in several major metro areas. Firms across all specializations reported declining billings this month. However, the pace of decline slowed at firms specializing in multifamily residential projects. These, along with institutional work, are likely to be the first to return to growth when conditions begin to improve.”