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 October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,461,000. This is 5.0 percent (±1.7 percent) above the revised September rate of 1,391,000 and is 14.1 percent (±2.1 percent) above the October 2018 rate of 1,281,000.
Single‐family authorizations in October were at a rate of 909,000; this is 3.2 percent (±1.0 percent) above the revised September figure of 881,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 505,000 in October.
Privately‐owned housing starts in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,314,000. This is 3.8 percent (±8.7 percent) above the revised September estimate of 1,266,000 and is 8.5 percent (±10.8 percent) above the October 2018 rate of 1,211,000.
Single‐family housing starts in October were at a rate of 936,000; this is 2.0 percent (±6.3 percent) above the revised September figure of 918,000. The October rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 362,000.
Privately‐owned housing completions in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,256,000. This is 10.3 percent (±11.7 percent) above the revised September estimate of 1,139,000 and is 12.4 percent (±11.7 percent) above the October 2018 rate of 1,117,000.
Single‐family housing completions in October were at a rate of 897,000; this is 4.5 percent (±10.3 percent) above the revised September rate of 858,000. The October rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 354,000.