The following is the unedited transcript of the news release from the U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce.


BUILDING PERMITS

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,068,000. This is 8.1 percent (±1.7%) below the revised November rate of 1,162,000 and is 34.4 percent (±2.2%) below the revised December 2006 estimate of 1,628,000. Single-family authorizations in December were at a rate of 692,000; this is 10.1 percent (±1.6%) below the November figure of 770,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 322,000 in December. An estimated 1,376,100 housing units were authorized by building permits in 2007. This is 25.3 percent (±0.8%) below the 2006 figure of 1,838,900.

HOUSING STARTS

Privately-owned housing starts in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,006,000. This is 14.2 percent (±8.3%) below the revised November estimate of 1,173,000 and is 38.2 percent (±4.9%) below the revised December 2006 rate of 1,629,000. Single-family housing starts in December were at a rate of 794,000; this is 2.9 percent (±8.7)* below the November figure of 818,000. The December rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 196,000. An estimated 1,353,700 housing units were started in 2007. This is 24.8 percent (±1.3%) below the 2006 figure of 1,800,900.

HOUSING COMPLETIONS

Privately-owned housing completions in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,302,000. This is 7.7 percent (±10.3%)* below the revised November estimate of 1,411,000 and is 31.0 percent (±5.8%) below the revised December 2006 rate of 1,887,000. Single-family housing completions in December were at a rate of 1,009,000; this is 12.0 percent (±10.5%) below the November figure of 1,146,000. The December rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 278,000. An estimated 1,500,200 housing units were completed in 2007. This is 24.2 percent (±1.7%) below the 2006 figure of 1,979,400.


Available at:

http://www.census.gov/const/newresconst.pdf