The US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced that privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,086,000. This is 7.7 percent (±1.2 percent) below the revised February rate of 1,177,000, but is 4.6 percent (±0.9 percent) above the March 2015 estimate of 1,038,000.
Single-family authorizations in March were at a rate of 727,000; this is 1.2 percent (±1.1 percent) below the revised February figure of 736,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 324,000 in March.
Privately-owned housing starts in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,089,000. This is 8.8 percent (±11.1 percent) below the revised February estimate of 1,194,000, but is 14.2 percent (±11.7 percent) above the March 2015 rate of 954,000.
Single-family housing starts in March were at a rate of 764,000; this is 9.2 percent (±10.3 percent) below the revised February figure of 841,000. The March rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 312,000.
Privately-owned housing completions in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,061,000. This is 3.5 percent (±13.3 percent) above the revised February estimate of 1,025,000 and is 31.6 percent (±15.2 percent) above the March 2015 rate of 806,000.
Single-family housing completions in March were at a rate of 734,000; this is 0.3 percent (±11.5 percent) below the revised February rate of 736,000. The March rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 316,000.