Privately-owned housing starts fell 14.3% in January, compared with the revised December estimate. Starts were down 37.8% below the January 2006 rate. Single-family in January were 11.2% below the December figure. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 276,000.
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in January were down 2.8% from the revised December rate, and 28.6% below the January 2006 estimate. Single-family authorizations were 4% below the December figure. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 370,000 in January.
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Privately-owned housing completions in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,880,000, roughly even with the revised December estimate and the January 2006 rate. Single-family housing completions also stayed flat from December. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 320,000.
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Housing Starts: January 2007
% Change | Northeast | Midwest | South | West |
December-Jan | +8.9% | -15.2% | -11.8% | -28.5% |
Jan 2006-Jan 2007 | -18.7 | -47.2% | -37% | -42% |
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development
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More details here.
Economic Indicators at MDM’s Databank.
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