Plywood and Engineered Wood Manufacturers NAICS 3212

Mar 25, 2026 - Homebuilder Confidence Remains Low

• Home builder confidence in the single-family market rose slightly in March, but builders remain concerned about housing affordability, higher construction costs, and shortages of buildable lots and labor, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Home builder sentiment, as measured by the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), rose one point to 38 in March 2026. Any HMI reading over 50 indicates that more builders see conditions as good than poor. The HMI survey also showed that 37% of builders reduced home prices in March to lure potential buyers off the sidelines, although the average price reduction of 6% remained unchanged from February. While the war in Iran and resulting higher oil prices could pose additional challenges, recent executive orders by President Trump aimed at reducing regulatory hurdles to homebuilding are seen as a positive step.
• Demand for building design services showed signs of stabilizing in February after several months of decline, according to a March report by the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The AIA’s Architecture Billing Index (ABI) rose to 49.4 compared to January's reading of 43.8. Any reading of 50 or more indicates growth in architectural billings. The score for new project inquiries rose to 52.3 in February from 49.3 in January, and the new design contracts index increased to 48.0 from 42.7. The AIA's Chief Economist Richard Branch said, "While the ABI data shows some positive trends, the broader economy continues to struggle, with unemployment increasing in February. However, architectural services employment remained steady in January at 204,600, up nearly 2,000 positions from a year ago."

• Single-family housing starts fell 2.8% month over month and 6.5% year over year in January. The Census Bureau report was delayed by the government shutdown late last year. The number of building permits issued for single-family, privately-owned housing units fell 0.9% month-over-month and dropped 11.6% year-over-year in January 2026. Homebuilders have faced several headwinds, including tariffs that have increased the cost of key inputs like lumber and cabinets, and labor shortages, according to Reuters. While interest rates have fallen in 2026, the US war with Iran is pushing oil prices higher, along with US Treasury yields. Mortgage rates could begin to rise again because they are tied to the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield.
• Affordability constraints in the US housing market are impacting demand for new homes. According to the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) 2026 Priced Out Analysis, 52% of US households (70 million) cannot afford a $300,000 home. The median home price in 2026 is about $410,000. At a mortgage rate of 6%, the minimum income needed to purchase a $200,000 home is $55,500, and only 47.5% of US households meet this home-price and minimum income threshold, even though $200,000 is less than half the US median home price. Affordability has been a key roadblock to more Americans joining the ranks of homeownership.