New housing: building permits fell again in October, while construction sites picked up.

In October, 31.107 housing units were authorized for construction, including 11.691 individual houses (+0,6% over one month) and 19.416 collective housing units (-9,2%), according to the Data and Statistical Studies Service (SDES).

Regarding construction site openings, they reportedly increased by 12,9% in October compared to September, after a decline the previous month.

The ministry emphasizes that this data is provisional, as the data collection rate is incomplete. It uses the conditional tense for housing starts, indicating that 27.187 units were started in October.

The SDES revised its methodology at the start of the academic year and now significantly revises the data from previous months every month.

Thus, the increase in building permits for September, initially announced at +2,8%, was revised to +2,2%. Similarly, the decline in housing starts for September was reassessed at -6,7%, compared to the initially announced -8,9%.

Looking at the long-term trend, from November 2024 to October 2025 (over a rolling 12-month period), 374.133 housing units were authorized for construction. This remains 11,0% lower than the average of the previous five years.

In terms of housing starts, over the last twelve months, 274.104 housing units were reportedly started, which is 22,2% less than the average of the previous five years.

New construction continues to face a profound crisis.

The sector has been suffering for three years from soaring construction material costs and rising interest rates, which have stifled household demand by reducing their real estate purchasing power.

Building professionals also point to the end of support schemes for rental investment (Pinel law) and the tightening of environmental standards as obstacles to recovery.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.