Homebuilders confidence in the single-family residential construction market in September jumped six points, to 65, according to the National Association of Home Builders index, released on Sept. 19. That rating is the highest level the index has reached since October 2015. “With inventory of new and existing homes remaining tight, builders are confident that, if they can build more homes, they can sell them,” says Robert Dietz, NAHB’s chief economist. “However, builders say they are hampered by shortages of labor,” he adds. (For ENR’s latest Construction Industry Confidence Index, see p. 39.)