Housing Starts Rose 1.5% in October

Washington, DC, November 20, 2018-Private owned housing starts in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,228,000, 1.5% above the revised September estimate of 1,210,000 but 2.9% below the October 2017 rate of 1,265,000, the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced.

Single‐family housing starts in October were at a rate of 865,000; this is 1.8% below the revised September figure of 881,000. The October rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 343,000.

Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,263,000. This is 0.6% below the revised September rate of 1,270,000 and is 6.0% below the October 2017 rate of 1,343,000. Single‐family authorizations in October were at a rate of 849,000; this is 0.6% below the revised September figure of 854,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 376,000 in October.

Privately‐owned housing completions in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,111,000. This is 3.3% below the revised September estimate of 1,149,000 and is 6.5% below the October 2017 rate of 1,188,000. Single‐family housing completions in October were at a rate of 832,000; this is 1.2% below the revised September rate of 842,000. The October rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 269,000.