April Housing Starts Fell from March But Rose 10.5% YOY

Washington, DC, May 16, 2018--Privately-owned housing starts in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,287,000, the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced. This is 3.7% below the revised March estimate of 1,336,000, but is 10.5% above the April 2017 rate of 1,165,000. Single-family housing starts in April were at a rate of 894,000; this is 0.1% above the revised March figure of 893,000. The April rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 374,000.

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,352,000. This is 1.8% below the revised March rate of 1,377,000, but is 7.7% above the April 2017 rate of 1,255,000. Single-family authorizations in April were at a rate of 859,000; this is 0.9% above the revised March figure of 851,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 450,000 in April.

Privately-owned housing completions in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,257,000. This is 2.8% above the revised March estimate of 1,223,000 and is 14.8% above the April 2017 rate of 1,095,000. Single-family housing completions in April were at a rate of 820,000; this is 4.0% below the revised March rate of 854,000. The April rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 425,000.