That explanation was always a bit suspect, since the US population did not skyrocket during COVID. Studies showed that many people with roommates did move out t

That explanation was always a bit suspect, since the US population did not skyrocket during COVID. Studies showed that many people with roommates did move out to be single housed during COVID (referenced on the Moody's Analytics podcast; I don't have the link handy). That's how the number of "households" went up. However, if people needed roommates for financial reasons before the pandemic then... maybe they will again?