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 1,596,000. This is 5.5% above the revised November rate of 1,513,000, but is 24.3% below the December 2005 estimate of 2,107,000.Single-family authorizations in December were at a rate of 1,164,000; this is 1.2% above the November figure of 1,150,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 353,000 in December. An estimated 1,833,500 housing units were authorized by building permits in 2006. This is 14.9% below the 2005 figure of 2,155,300.

HOUSING STARTS

Privately-owned housing starts in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,642,000. This is 4.5% above the revised November estimate of 1,572,000, but is 18.0% below the December 2005 rate of 2,002,000. Single-family housing starts in December were at a rate of 1,230,000; this is 4.1% below the November figure of 1,282,000. The December rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 350,000.An estimated 1,800,700 housing units were started in 2006. This is 12.9% below the 2005 figure of 2,068,300.

HOUSING COMPLETIONS

Privately-owned housing completions in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,900,000. This is 0.4% above the revised November estimate of 1,893,000, but is 2.7% below the December 2005 rate of 1,953,000. Single-family housing completions in December were at a rate of 1,523,000; this is 0.3% below the November figure of 1,527,000. The December rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 320,000.An estimated 1,978,200 housing units were completed in 2006. This is 2.4% above the 2005 figure of 1,931,400.


Available at:

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