The US Census Bureau and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced today that privately‐owned housing units authorized by building permits in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,296,000. This is 0.6 percent (±2.6 percent) above the revised March rate of 1,288,000, but is 5.0 percent (±1.4 percent) below the April 2018 rate of 1,364,000.
Single‐family authorizations in April were at a rate of 782,000; this is 4.2 percent (±1.2 percent) below the revised March figure of 816,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 467,000 in April.
Privately‐owned housing starts in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,235,000. This is 5.7 percent (±13.0 percent) above the revised March estimate of 1,168,000, but is 2.5 percent (±10.4 percent) below the April 2018 rate of 1,267,000.
Single‐family housing starts in April were at a rate of 854,000; this is 6.2 percent (±13.7 percent) above the revised March figure of 804,000. The April rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 359,000.
Privately‐owned housing completions in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,312,000. This is 1.4 percent (±15.5 percent) below the revised March estimate of 1,331,000, but is 5.5 percent (±11.9 percent) above the April 2018 rate of 1,244,000.
Single‐family housing completions in April were at a rate of 918,000; this is 4.1 percent (±13.4 percent) below the revised March rate of 957,000. The April rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 381,000.