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 August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,300,000. This is 5.7 percent (±2.0 percent) above the revised July rate of 1,230,000 and is 8.3 percent (±1.6 percent) above the August 2016 rate of 1,200,000.
Single-family authorizations in August were at a rate of 800,000; this is 1.5 percent (±1.3 percent) below the revised July figure of 812,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 464,000 in August.
Privately-owned housing starts in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,180,000. This is 0.8 percent (±9.6 percent) below the revised July estimate of 1,190,000, but is 1.4 percent (±8.9 percent) above the August 2016 rate of 1,164,000.
Single-family housing starts in August were at a rate of 851,000; this is 1.6 percent (±9.0 percent) above the revised July figure of 838,000. The August rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 323,000.
Privately-owned housing completions in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,075,000. This is 10.2 percent (±12.3 percent) below the revised July estimate of 1,197,000, but is 3.4 percent (±13.0 percent) above the August 2016 rate of 1,040,000.
Single-family housing completions in August were at a rate of 724,000; this is 13.3 percent (±14.7 percent) below the revised July rate of 835,000. The August rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 348,000.