Housing Starts Slid 20.8% in April

Washington, DC, May 19, 2020-Privately-owned housing starts in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 891,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 30.2% below the revised March estimate of 1,276,000 and is 29.7% below the April 2019 rate of 1,267,000. Single-family housing starts in April were at a rate of 650,000; this is 25.4% below the revised March figure of 871,000. The April rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 234,000.

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,074,000, 20.8% below the revised March rate of 1,356,000 and is 19.2% below the April 2019 rate of 1,330,000.

Single-family authorizations in April were at a rate of 669,000; this is 24.3% below the revised March figure of 884,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 373,000 in April.