The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for August 2013:
Building Permits
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 918,000. This is 3.8 percent (±1.3 percent) below the revised July rate of 954,000, but is 11.0 percent (±1.8 percent) above the August 2012 estimate of 827,000. Single-family authorizations in August were at a rate of 627,000; this is 3.0 percent (±0.9 percent) above the revised July figure of 609,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 268,000 in August.
Housing starts
Privately-owned housing starts in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 891,000. This is 0.9 percent (±13.0 percent) above the revised July estimate of 883,000 and is 19.0 percent (±11.1 percent) above the August 2012 rate of 749,000. Single-family housing starts in August were at a rate of 628,000; this is 7.0 percent (±13.9 percent) above the revised July figure of 587,000. The August rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 252,000.
Housing completions
Privately-owned housing completions in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 769,000. This is 0.3 percent (±15.6 percent) above the revised July estimate of 767,000 and is 12.1 percent (±15.1 percent) above the August 2012 rate of 686,000. Single-family housing completions in August were at a rate of 573,000; this is 0.5 percent (±12.8 percent) above the revised July rate of 570,000. The August rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 191,000.
For more information, visit www.hud.gov.