The US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced Wednesday that building permits in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 803,000, 1 percent below the July rate but a 24.5 percent surge over August 2011 levels. Single-family authorizations in August were at a rate of 512,000; this is 0.2 percent above the revised July figure of 511,000.
Privately-owned housing starts in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 750,000. This is 2.3 percent above the revised July estimate of 733,000 and is 29.1 percent above the August 2011 rate of 581,000. Single-family housing starts in August were at a rate of 535,000; this is 5.5 percent above the revised July figure of 507,000.
Privately-owned housing completions in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 689,000. This is 0.7 percent above the revised July estimate of 684,000 and is 11.7 percent above the August 2011 rate of 617,000. Single-family housing completions in August were at a rate of 489,000; this is 5.4 percent above the revised July rate of464,000.