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 March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 927,000. This is 5.8 percent (±1.7%) below the revised February rate of 984,000 and is 40.9 percent (±1.9%) below the revised March 2007 estimate of 1,569,000.
Single-family authorizations in March were at a rate of 606,000; this is 6.2 percent (±2.1%) below the February figure of 646,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 286,000 in March.

HOUSING STARTS

Privately-owned housing starts in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 947,000. This is 11.9 percent (±11.6%) below the revised February estimate of 1,075,000 and is 36.5 percent (±5.2%) below the revised March 2007 rate of 1,491,000. Single-family housing starts in March were at a rate of 680,000; this is 5.7 percent (±11.1%)* below the February figure of 721,000. The March rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 247,000.

HOUSING COMPLETIONS

Privately-owned housing completions in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,216,000. This is 2.7 percent (±11.6%) below the revised February estimate of 1,250,000 and is 24.5 percent (±7.1%) below the revised March 2007 rate of 1,610,000. Single-family housing completions in March were at a rate of 944,000; this is 3.3 percent (±12.8%) above the February figure of 914,000. The March rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 258,000.


Available at:

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