US house completions reached an estimated 583, 900 units in 2011, 10.4% below the 2010 total (651, 700). The latest figures from the US Census Bureau also show that estimated housing starts in 2011 were up 3.4% to 606, 900 units, while the number of building permits issued was up 1.2% to 611, 900. The figures for completions, starts and new permits all increased in December last year, with the biggest growth coming in privately-owned housing starts – up 24.9% on December 2010. Source: ttjonline.com
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http://www.ttjonline.com/story.asp?sectioncode=17&storycode=69455&c=2