The US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced Thursday the new residential construction statistics for July 2012.
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 812,000, the most since August 2008. This is 6.8 percent above the revised June rate of 760,000 and is 29.5 percent above the July 2011 estimate of 627,000. Single-family authorizations in July were at a rate of 513,000; this is 4.5 percent above the revised June figure of 491,000.
Privately-owned housing starts in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 746,000. This is 1.1 percent below the revised June estimate of 754,000, but is 21.5 percent above the July 2011 rate of 614,000. Single-family housing starts in July were at a rate of 502,000, 6.5 percent below the revised June figure of 537,000.
Privately-owned housing completions in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 668,000. This is 7.1 percent above the revised June estimate of 624,000 and is 5.4 percent above the July 2011 rate of 634,000. Single-family housing completions in July were at a rate of 448,000; this is 5.9 percent below the revised June rate of 476,000.