The US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Wednesday that privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 550,000. This is 0.5 percent (±3.0 percent) above the revised September rate of 547,000, but is 4.5 percent (±3.1 percent) below the October 2009 estimate of 576,000.
Single-family authorizations in October were at a rate of 406,000, 1 percent (±1.3 percent) above the revised September figure of 402,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 121,000 in October.
Privately-owned housing starts in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 519,000. This is 11.7 percent (±8.6 percent) below the revised September estimate of 588,000 and is 1.9 percent (±9.6 percent) below the October 2009 rate of 529,000.
Single-family housing starts in October were at a rate of 436,000; this is 1.1 percent (±8.6 percent) below the revised September figure of 441,000. The October rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 74,000.
Privately-owned housing completions in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 613,000. This is 3.2 percent (±15.3 percent) below the revised September estimate of 633,000 and is 18.4 percent (±11.4 percent) below the October 2009 rate of 751,000.
Single-family housing completions in October were at a rate of 501,000; this is 2.7 percent (±16.8 percent) above the revised September rate of 488,000. The October rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 107,000.