Housing Starts Rose 9.7% in January

Washington, DC, February 16, 2018-Privately-owned housing starts in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,326,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This is 9.7% above the revised December estimate of 1,209,000 and is 7.3% above the January 2017 rate of 1,236,000.

Single-family housing starts in January were at a rate of 877,000; this is 3.7% above the revised December figure of 846,000. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 431,000.

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,396,000. This is 7.4% above the revised December rate of 1,300,000 and is 7.4% above the January 2017 rate of 1,300,000. Single-family authorizations in January were at a rate of 866,000; this is 1.7% below the revised December figure of 881,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 479,000 in January.

Privately-owned housing completions in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,166,000. This is 1.9% below the revised December estimate of 1,188,000, but is 7.7% above the January 2017 rate of 1,083,000. Single-family housing completions in January were at a rate of 850,000; this is 2.2% above the revised December rate of 832,000. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 305,000.