The US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced Tuesday that privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 946,000. This is 4.6 percent above the revised January rate of 904,000 and is 33.8 percent above the February 2012 estimate of 707,000. Single-family authorizations in February were at a rate of 600,000; this is 2.7 percent above the revised January figure of 584,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 316,000 in February.
Privately-owned housing starts in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 917,000. This is 0.8 percent above the revised January estimate of 910,000 and is 27.7 percent above the February 2012 rate of 718,000. Single-family housing starts in February were at a rate of 618,000; this is 0.5 percent above the revised January figure of 615,000. The February rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 285,000.
Privately-owned housing completions in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 711,000. This is 0.6 percent below the revised January estimate of 715,000, but is 24.3 percent above the February 2012 rate of 572,000. Single-family housing completions in February were at a rate of 574,000; this is 3.6 percent above the revised January rate of 554,000. The February rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 130,000.
