Early in 2014, The Wall Street Journal’s survey of a panel of economists had high hopes for 20% housing-start growth to 1.11 million.
But the harsh winter and tepid demand for new homes has dampened the WSJ economists’ housing enthusiasm. The consensus view expects starts will average 1.01 million this year.
In the August survey, 20.6% of economists mentioned housing as a downside risk. That’s up from less than 5% who said that in January.