Why are housing starts a key indicator of a nation’s economic well-being?


Residential construction is more important to the economy than commercial or industrial construction.
Residential construction is more important to the economy than commercial or industrial construction.

Gross domestic product cannot be calculated without knowing the number of housing starts.
Gross domestic product cannot be calculated without knowing the number of housing starts.

Housing starts affect the health of a number of other important industries.
Housing starts affect the health of a number of other important industries.

Housing starts can be used as a measure of homelessness and, by proxy, unemployment.