U.S. Housing Starts Preview U.S. Housing Starts Preview: Thursday's report on April housing starts is expected to show a 5.4% decline for the headline to a 980k (median 970k) level following the 1,036k level in March which marked a new high since 2008. Accompanying the report analysts expect permits to increase to 955k from 907k and completions to rise to 810k from 800k in March.