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 1,396,000. This is 7.4 percent (±1.2 percent) above the revised December rate of 1,300,000 and is 7.4 percent (±1.9 percent) above the January 2017 rate of 1,300,000.
Single-family authorizations in January were at a rate of 866,000; this is 1.7 percent (±1.3 percent) below the revised December figure of 881,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 479,000 in January.
Privately-owned housing starts in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,326,000. This is 9.7 percent (±16.8 percent) above the revised December estimate of 1,209,000 and is 7.3 percent (±15.0 percent) above the January 2017 rate of 1,236,000.
Single-family housing starts in January were at a rate of 877,000; this is 3.7 percent (±9.7 percent) above the revised December figure of 846,000. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 431,000.
Privately-owned housing completions in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,166,000. This is 1.9 percent (±7.8 percent) below the revised December estimate of 1,188,000, but is 7.7 percent (±11.9 percent) above the January 2017 rate of 1,083,000.
Single-family housing completions in January were at a rate of 850,000; this is 2.2 percent (±8.3 percent) above the revised December rate of 832,000. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 305,000.