Housing Starts Fell 9.0% in September

Washington, DC, October 19, 2016—Privately owned housing starts in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,047,000, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced.

This is 9.0% below the revised August estimate of 1,150,000 and is 11.9% below the September 2015 rate of 1,189,000.

Single-family housing starts in September were at a rate of 783,000; this is 8.1% above the revised August figure of 724,000. The September rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 250,000.

Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,225,000. This is 6.3% above the revised August rate of 1,152,000 and is 8.5% above the September 2015 estimate of 1,129,000.

Single-family authorizations in September were at a rate of 739,000; this is 0.4% above the revised August figure of 736,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 449,000 in September.

Privately owned housing completions in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 951,000. This is 8.4% below the revised August estimate of 1,038,000 and is 5.8% below the September 2015 rate of 1,010,000.

Single-family housing completions in September were at a rate of 687,000; this is 8.8% below the revised August rate of 753,000. The September rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 250,000.