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


The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for January 2008:

BUILDING PERMITS

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,048,000. This is 3.0 percent (±1.5%) below the revised December rate of 1,080,000 and is 33.1 percent (±1.4%) below the revised January 2007 estimate of 1,566,000.
Single-family authorizations in January were at a rate of 673,000; this is 4.1 percent (±1.8%) below the December figure of 702,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 336,000 in January.

HOUSING STARTS

Privately-owned housing starts in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,012,000. This is 0.8 percent (±8.2%)* above the revised December estimate of 1,004,000, but is 27.9 percent (±5.9%) below the revised January 2007 rate of 1,403,000. Single-family housing starts in January were at a rate of 743,000; this is 5.2 percent (±8.1%) below the December figure of 784,000.The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 247,000.

HOUSING COMPLETIONS

Privately-owned housing completions in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,351,000. This is 1.8 percent (±8.9%) above the revised December estimate of 1,327,000, but is 26.2 percent (±9.6%) below the revised January 2007 rate of 1,830,000. Single-family housing completions in January were at a rate of 1,010,000; this is 1.0 percent (±7.7%)* below the December figure of 1,020,000. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 303,000.


Available at:

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