The US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced Wednesday that privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 937,000. This is 5.4 percent (±0.7 percent) below the revised December rate of 991,000, but is 2.4 percent (±1.0 percent) above the January 2013 estimate of 915,000. Single-family authorizations in January were at a rate of 602,000; this is 1.3 percent (±0.8 percent) below the revised December figure of 610,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 309,000 in January.
Privately-owned housing starts in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 880,000. This is 16.0 percent (±10.5 percent) below the revised December estimate of 1,048,000 and is 2.0 percent (±10.8 percent)* below the January 2013 rate of 898,000. Single-family housing starts in January were at a rate of 573,000; this is 15.9 percent (±12.1 percent) below the revised December figure of 681,000. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 300,000.
Privately-owned housing completions in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 814,000. This is 4.6 percent (±8.3 percent) above the revised December estimate of 778,000 and is 13.1 percent (±12.8 percent) above the January 2013 rate of 720,000. Single-family housing completions in January were at a rate of 580,000; this is 3.0 percent (±7.3 percent) above the revised December rate of 563,000. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 220,000.