Privately-owned housing starts in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 583,000, 22.2% above January, but is 47.3% below February 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
 
Single-family housing starts in February were at a rate of 357,000; this is 1.1% above the January figure of 353,000. The February rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 212,000.
 
By region, housing starts in the Northeast were down 44.8% from February 2008; in the Midwest, they were down 45.5%. Starts dropped 42.5% in the South, and the West experienced a decrease of 59.1%.
 
Permits
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 547,000, 3% above the revised January rate of 531,000, but 44.2% below the February 2008 estimate of 981,000.
 
Single-family authorizations in February were at a rate of 373,000, 11% above January. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 156,000 in February.
 
Housing Completions
Privately-owned housing completions in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 785,000, 2.3% above the January estimate, but 37.3% below the February 2008 rate.
 
Single-family housing completions in February were at a rate of 505,000; this is 8.2% below the January figure of 550,000. The February rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 268,000.

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