Housing starts per year

Why this row

Builders started about 1.36 million homes in 2025 and 2.36 million in 1972, when the country had 210 million people against 342 million now. Freddie Mac estimates a shortage of 3.7 million homes, and nearly half of renter households pay more than 30% of income for housing. In 2025 Utah and Texas permitted new homes at 2.5 to 2.9 times California's rate per resident. The row returns the country by 2030 to 85% of its 1972 volume with 61% of today's population, and holds it there. It is anticipatory because builders deliver it once permitting does. The Act's Housing Tranche pays states on permits and completions, and its Routine Work Rule takes work on previously disturbed land and existing footprints out of environmental review.

The path

steps to 2.0 in 2030 and holds; 85% of the 1972 volume with 61% of today's population

Each July 4 the row shows its baseline, this path, the latest official value and a status of ahead, on schedule or behind. As an anticipatory row it reports the public decisions that delayed it.