Housing Starts Rose 5.7% in April

Washington, DC, May 16, 2019- Privately‐owned housing starts in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,235,000, 5.7% above the revised March estimate of 1,168,000 but 2.5% below the April 2018 rate of 1,267,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Single‐family housing starts in April were at a rate of 854,000; this is 6.2% above the revised March figure of 804,000. The April rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 359,000.

Privately‐owned housing units authorized by building permits in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,296,000. This is 0.6% above the revised March rate of 1,288,000, but is 5.0% below the April 2018 rate of 1,364,000. Single‐family authorizations in April were at a rate of 782,000; this is 4.2% below the revised March figure of 816,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 467,000 in April.

Privately‐owned housing completions in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,312,000. This is 1.4% below the revised March estimate of 1,331,000, but is 5.5% above the April 2018 rate of 1,244,000. Single‐family housing completions in April were at a rate of 918,000; this is 4.1% below the revised March rate of 957,000. The April rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 381,000.