Residential Construction Jumps Ahead in May
Permits advance 8.7 percent; starts move up 3.5 percent.
The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for May 2011:
BUILDING PERMITS
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 612,000. This is 8.7 percent (±1.5%) above the revised April rate of 563,000 and is 5.2 percent (±2.4%) above the May 2010 estimate of 582,000.
Single-family authorizations in May were at a rate of 405,000; this is 2.5 percent (±1.1%) above the revised April figure of 395,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 190,000 in May.
HOUSING STARTS
Privately-owned housing starts in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 560,000. This is 3.5 percent (±12.4%)* above the revised April estimate of 541,000, but is 3.4 percent (±8.7%)* below the May 2010 rate of 580,000.
Single-family housing starts in May were at a rate of 419,000; this is 3.7 percent (±9.5%)* above the revised April figure of 404,000. The May rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 134,000.
HOUSING COMPLETIONS
Privately-owned housing completions in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 544,000. This is 0.4 percent (±14.6%)* above the revised April estimate of 542,000, but is 22.5 percent (±9.2%) below the May 2010 rate of 702,000.
Single-family housing completions in May were at a rate of 431,000; this is 2.9 percent (±17.0%)* above the revised April rate of 419,000. The May rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 108,000.
