By Likhitha Butchireddygari

WASHINGTON--A measure of U.S. home-builder confidence improved in September, the National Association of Home Builders said Tuesday.

--NAHB's housing market index rose to 68 this month from a revised level of 67 in August. Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had expected the reading to remain unchanged. A reading over 50 means most builders generally see conditions in the single-family housing market as positive.

--NAHB chief economist Robert Dietz attributed the increase in home-builder confidence to low mortgage rates and solid household formations, but added that trade uncertainty still weighed on home-builders. "Builders are expressing growing concerns regarding uncertainty stemming from the trade dispute with China," he said.

--The index had held in a range between 64 and 66 from May to July as rates on 30-year mortgages tumbled. The average rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage picked up slightly, hitting 3.56% for the week ended Sept. 12, after falling to a three-year low the week prior, according to Freddie Mac.

--Overall, despite low mortgage rates, the housing market has been on shaky footing due to low inventory and high labor and material costs. The Commerce Department will release new data Wednesday on U.S. home building in August.

Write to Likhitha Butchireddygari at likhitha.butchireddygari@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 17, 2019 10:32 ET (14:32 GMT)