US home construction went up 17.3 percent to 1,186,000 homes in June from the previous month, after some states reopened.
It was the second straight month of increase after a modest recovery in May followed sharp declines in April and March.
However, construction activity remains 4 percent below last year following a massive slowdown due to the pandemic.
Applications for building permits also increased by 2.1 percent to 1.24 million units.
It's unclear if the rebound is sustainable with infections that have increased, especially in the South, where businesses have reopened.
Homebuilder sentiment, which considered positive if above 50 points, jumped 14 points to 72 in July, according to the Housing Market Index of the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo.
The number was the same in March, before the plummeting to 30 in April due to the pandemic.
Current sales conditions rose 16 points to 79, sales expectations in the next six months went up seven points to 75, and buyer traffic surged 15 points to 58.
According to NAHB Chairman Chuck Fowke, low-interest rates fuel interest as builders also benefit from the sidelined demand during the lockdowns.
Mortgage rates have been setting record lows almost weekly, giving buyers more purchasing power.
Mortgage applications for purchasing new homes were up over 50 percent in June from last year.


Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off
Asian Stocks Slip as Tech Rout Deepens, Japan Steadies Ahead of Election
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility
Singapore Budget 2026 Set for Fiscal Prudence as Growth Remains Resilient
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings
Australia’s December Trade Surplus Expands but Falls Short of Expectations 



