The US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced that privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,202,000. This is 0.2 percent (±0.5 percent) below the revised December rate of 1,204,000, but is 13.5 percent (±1.5 percent) above the January 2015 estimate of 1,059,000.
Single-family authorizations in January were at a rate of 720,000; this is 1.6 percent (±1.0 percent) below the revised December figure of 732,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 442,000 in January.
Privately-owned housing starts in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,099,000. This is 3.8 percent (±12.0 percent) below the revised December estimate of 1,143,000, but is 1.8 percent (±13.5 percent) above the January 2015 rate of 1,080,000.
Single-family housing starts in January were at a rate of 731,000; this is 3.9 percent (±10.5 percent) below the revised December figure of 761,000. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 354,000.
Privately-owned housing completions in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,057,000. This is 2.0 percent (±9.3 percent) above the revised December estimate of 1,036,000 and is 8.4 percent (±13.2 percent) above the January 2015 rate of 975,000.
Single-family housing completions in January were at a rate of 693,000; this is 1.4 percent (±10.2 percent) below the revised December rate of 703,000. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 351,000.