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


NEW RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION IN SEPTEMBER 2005

The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for September 2005:

BUILDING PERMITS

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2,189,000. This is 2.4 percent (±0.8%) above the revised August rate of 2,138,000 and is 7.4 percent (±1.1%) above the September 2004 estimate of 2,039,000.
Single-family authorizations in September were at a rate of 1,749,000; this is 4.4 percent (±0.9%) above the August figure of 1,676,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 352,000 in September.

HOUSING STARTS

Privately-owned housing starts in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2,108,000. This is 3.4 percent (±6.3%)* above the revised August estimate of 2,038,000 and is 10.3 percent (±7.2%) above the September 2004 rate of 1,912,000. Single-family housing starts in September 2005 were at a rate of 1,747,000; this is 2.6 percent (±6.6%)* above the August figure of 1,703,000. The September rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 303,000.

HOUSING COMPLETIONS

Privately-owned housing completions in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,979,000. This is 3.2 percent (±7.9%)* above the revised August estimate of 1,917,000 and is 10.9 percent (±8.8%) above the September 2004 rate of 1,784,000. Single-family housing completions in September 2005 were at a rate of 1,680,000; this is 4.2 percent (±6.6%)* above the August figure of 1,612,000. The September rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 265,000.


Available at: http://www.commerce.gov/