Government Reports December Construction Numbers

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(WASHINGTON, DC) -- The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for December 2009:

BUILDING PERMITS

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 653,000.   This is 10.9 percent (±2.4%) above the revised November rate of 589,000 and is 15.8 percent (±2.9%) above the December 2008 estimate of 564,000.

Single-family authorizations in December were at a rate of 508,000; this is 8.3 percent (±1.2%) above the revised November figure of 469,000. Authorizations of units in building with five units or more were at a rate of 127,000 in December.

An estimated 571,600 housing units were authorized by building permits in 2009. This is 36.9 percent (±1.0%) below the 2008 figure of 905,400.

HOUSING STARTS

Privately-owned housing starts in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 557,000.   This is 4.0 percent (±9.3%) below the revised November estimate of 580,000, but is 0.2 percent (±11.5%) above the December 2008 rate of 556,000.

Single-family housing starts in December were at a rate of 456,000; this is 6.9 percent (±8.5%) below the revised November figure of 490,000.   The December rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 92,000.

An estimated 553,800 housing units were started in 2009. This is 38.8 percent (±1.4%) below the 2008 figure of 905,500.

HOUSING COMPLETIONS

Privately-owned housing completions in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 768,000.   This is 11.2 percent (±13.6%) below the revised November estimate of 865,000 and is 25.3 percent (±8.6%) below the December 2008 rate of 1,028,000.

Single-family housing completions in December were at a rate of 503,000; this is 11.1 percent (±10.2%) below the revised November rate of 566,000.   The December rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 245,000.

An estimated 796,000 housing units were completed in 2009. This is 28.9 percent (±3.0%) below the 2008 figure of 1,119,700.

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