The US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced Thursday that privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,170,000. This is 3.5 percent (±1.4 percent) above the revised July rate of 1,130,000 and is 12.5 percent (±1.9 percent) above the August 2014 estimate of 1,040,000. Single-family authorizations in August were at a rate of 699,000; this is 2.8 percent (±1.7 percent) above the revised July figure of 680,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 440,000 in August.
Privately-owned housing starts in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,126,000. This is 3.0 percent (±11.3 percent) below the revised July estimate of 1,161,000, but is 16.6 percent (±10.4 percent) above the August 2014 rate of 966,000. Single-family housing starts in August were at a rate of 739,000; this is 3.0 percent (±9.5 percent) below the revised July figure of 762,000. The August rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 381,000.
Privately-owned housing completions in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 935,000. This is 6.1 percent (±12.5 percent) below the revised July estimate of 996,000, but is 3.3 percent (±12.7 percent) above the August 2014 rate of 905,000. Single-family housing completions in August were at a rate of 646,000; this is 1.6 percent (±11.0 percent) above the revised July rate of 636,000. The August rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 283,000.