The US Census Bureau and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced that privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in March 2017 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,260,000. This is 3.6 percent (±2.8 percent) above the revised February rate of 1,216,000 and is 17.0 percent (±1.2 percent) above the March 2016 rate of 1,077,000.
Single-family authorizations in March were at a rate of 823,000; this is 1.1 percent (±1.9 percent) below the revised February figure of 832,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 401,000 in March.
Privately-owned housing starts in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,215,000. This is 6.8 percent (±12.5 percent) below the revised February estimate of 1,303,000, but is 9.2 percent (±9.1 percent) above the March 2016 rate of 1,113,000.
Single-family housing starts in March were at a rate of 821,000; this is 6.2 percent (±10.0 percent) below the revised February figure of 875,000. The March rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 385,000.
Privately-owned housing completions in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,205,000. This is 3.2 percent (±13.5 percent) above the revised February estimate of 1,168,000 and is 13.4 percent (±16.2 percent) above the March 2016 rate of 1,063,000.
Single-family housing completions in March were at a rate of 819,000; this is 7.9 percent (±12.9 percent) above the revised February rate of 759,000. The March rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 374,000.