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 January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,345,000. This is 1.4 percent (±0.8 percent) above the revised December rate of 1,326,000, but is 1.5 percent (±1.0 percent) below the January 2018 rate of 1,366,000.
Single‐family authorizations in January were at a rate of 812,000; this is 2.1 percent (±1.0 percent) below the revised December figure of 829,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 482,000 in January.
Privately‐owned housing starts in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,230,000. This is 18.6 percent (±26.6 percent) above the revised December estimate of 1,037,000, but is 7.8 percent (±12.7 percent) below the January 2018 rate of 1,334,000.
Single‐family housing starts in January were at a rate of 926,000; this is 25.1 percent (±29.0 percent) above the revised December figure of 740,000. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 289,000.
Privately‐owned housing completions in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,244,000. This is 27.6 percent (±13.5 percent) above the revised December estimate of 975,000 and is 2.1 percent (±12.2 percent) above the January 2018 rate of 1,218,000.
Single‐family housing completions in January were at a rate of 914,000; this is 30.2 percent (±14.4 percent) above the revised December rate of 702,000. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 327,000.