Single-Family Housing Starts Jump 10.2% in April

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly released report today on residential construction for April, single-family housing starts jump 10.2%.

Here are the report highlights:

BUILDING PERMITS

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 606,000. This is 11.5 percent (±1.1%) below the revised March rate of 685,000, but is 15.9 percent (±1.3%) above the revised April 2009 estimate of 523,000.

Single-family authorizations in April were at a rate of 484,000; this is 10.7 percent (±1.1%) below the revised March figure of 542,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 103,000 in April.

HOUSING STARTS

Privately-owned housing starts in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 672,000. This is 5.8 percent (±13.0%) above the revised March estimate of 635,000 and is 40.9 percent (±19.8%) above the revised April 2009 rate of 477,000.

Single-family housing starts in April were at a rate of 593,000; this is 10.2 percent (±10.7%) above the revised March figure of 538,000. The April rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 68,000.

HOUSING COMPLETIONS

Privately-owned housing completions in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 769,000. This is 19.2 percent (±13.8%) above the revised March estimate of 645,000, but is 8.7 percent (±12.8%) below the revised April 2009 rate of 842,000.

Single-family housing completions in April were at a rate of 564,000; this is 14.6 percent (±13.1%) above the revised March figure of 492,000. The April rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 192,000.

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