Important Leading Indicators
Housing starts. Housing starts is the number of new construction projects that have begun in the last month. During a recession, new construction slows considerably. When a family believes that they can invest in a new house or a business believes it can invest in a new building, this is an indication that economic confidence has improved, and it may be a signal that the recession is ending. Once building permits have been granted and new projects begin, builders buy materials and hire new workers, which lead to increased manufacturing and employment. Thus, an increase in housing starts is a good indication that a contraction phase may be ending. Conversely, a downturn in housing starts can indicate the beginning of an economic decline and possibly the onset of a contractionary period. When faced with a reduction i