Annualized housing starts are expected to regain ground by 2003.
| Quarter–Year | Estimated Starts |
| Q1–2002 | 1.42 million |
| Q2–2002 | 1.55 million |
| Q3–2002 | 1.60 million |
| Q4–2002 | 1.65 million |
| Q1–2003 | 1.68 million |
The data shows that housing starts have averaged 1.574 million for the past five years (peaking in 1999 at 1.66 million homes), even with the recession that began in March 2001 starts are not expected to fall as far as they did during the two previous recessions. They are, in fact, expected to rapidly regain ground by 2003.
Source: NAHB Economics
