Supply Chain & Market Monitor: U.S. Housing Supply Gap Widens as New Home Construction Lags

The United States continues to face a significant housing shortage as new construction fails to keep up with demand. According to a 2026 housing report, the national housing supply gap expanded to about 4.03 million homes in 2025, increasing from 3.8 million the previous year. While approximately 1.41 million new households were formed, only about 1.36 million housing units were started, and completions also declined.

More than a decade of underbuilding, high construction costs, and affordability challenges have contributed to the shortage. As a result, housing prices remain elevated and many young households are delaying homeownership due to limited supply and rising costs.

HawaExpo 2026 opened in Ho Chi Minh City in March 2026, significantly expanding its scale and reinforcing Vietnam’s role as a global furniture manufacturing hub. The exhibition is three times larger than the previous edition and takes place at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC).

The event gathers hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of international buyers, showcasing furniture, wood products, and design innovations. Industry leaders view the exhibition as an important platform connecting global buyers with Vietnam’s growing wood and furniture manufacturing sector aimed at export markets such as the US, Europe, and Japan.