Housing Starts
NEW RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION IN FEBRUARY 2010
BUILDING PERMITS
* Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 612,000. This is 1.6 percent (±1.0%) below the revised January rate of 622,000, but is 11.3 percent (±1.8%) above the February 2009 estimate of 550,000.
* Single-family authorizations in February were at a rate of 503,000; this is 0.2 percent (±1.0%)* below the revised January figure of 504,000. Authorizations of units in building with five units or more were at a rate of 89,000 in February.
HOUSING STARTS
* Privately-owned housing starts in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 575,000. This is 5.9 percent (±10.0%)* below the revised January estimate of 611,000, but is 0.2 percent (±9.8%)* above the February 2009 rate of 574,000.
*Single-family housing starts in February were at a rate of 499,000; this is 0.6 percent (±10.6%)* below the revised January figure of 502,000. The February rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 58,000.