Building Permits
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,544,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 0.8 percent (& plusmn; 1.0%)above the revised February rate of 1,532,000, but is 25.9 percent (& plusmn; 0.9%) below the March 2006 estimate of 2,085,000.
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Single-family authorizations in March were at a rate of 1,114,000; this is 1.4 percent (& plusmn; 0.9%) above the February figure of 1,099,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 358,000 in March.
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Housing Starts
Privately-owned housing starts in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,518,000. This is 0.8 percent (& plusmn; 11.3%)* above the revised February estimate of 1,506,000, but is 23.0 percent (& plusmn; 5.4%) below the March 2006 rate of 1,972,000.
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Single-family housing starts in March were at a rate of 1,218,000; this is 2.0 percent (& plusmn; 10.5%)* above the February figure of 1,194,000. The March rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 262,000.
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Housing Completions
Privately-owned housing completions in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,632,000. This is 0.7 percent (& plusmn; 7.7%)* below the revised February estimate of 1,643,000 and is 25.9 percent (& plusmn; 5.2%) below the March 2006 rate of 2,203,000.
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Single-family housing completions in March were at a rate of 1,329,000; this is 1.5 percent (& plusmn; 9.3%)* above the February figure of 1,309,000. The March rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 264,000.
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Year-to-Date Percent Change (through March 2007)

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