U.S. homebuilder confidence rose has risen more than expected in May, as attractive interest rates and a relatively low supply of existing homes has encouraged people to build new dwellings.
Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes improved three points to a 44 reading on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for May.
Analysts were looking for a more modest improvement to a reading of 43 from April's downwardly revised 41.
"Builders are noting an increased sense of urgency among potential buyers as a result of thinning inventories of homes for sale, continuing affordable mortgage rates and strengthening local economies," said NAHB Chairman Rick Judson, a home builder from Charlotte, N.C.
"This is definitely an encouraging sign even amidst rising challenges with regard to the cost and availability of building materials, lots and labor."
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May 22, 2026 14:46 ET Minutes of the latest Fed policy session was the highlight of the week along with survey data on the U.S. housing market. In Europe, survey data signaled the trends in the euro area private sector. Further, consumer price inflation data from the U.K. was in focus. In Asia, various economic indicators from China drew attention to the health of the economy.