Housing Starts Down 6% in January

Washington, DC, February 18, 2021-Privately owned housing starts in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,580,000, 6% below the revised December estimate of 1,680,000 and 2.3% below the January 2020 rate of 1,617,000. Single-family housing starts in January were at a rate of 1,162,000; this is 12.2% below the revised December figure of 1,323,000. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 402,000.

Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,881,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This is 10.4% above the revised December rate of 1,704,000 and is 22.5% above the January 2020 rate of 1,536,000. Single-family authorizations in January were at a rate of 1,269,000; this is 3.8% above the revised December figure of 1,223,000.

Privately owned housing completions in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,336,000. This is 2.3% below the revised December estimate of 1,368,000, but is 2.4% above the January 2020 rate of 1,305,000. Single-family housing completions in January were at a rate of 1,036,000; this is 10.0% above the revised December rate of 942,000. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 296,000.