Housing Starts Up 6.6% in April

Washington, DC, May 17, 2016— Privately-owned housing starts in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,172,000, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced. This is 6.6% above the revised March estimate of 1,099,000 but 1.7% below the April 2015 rate of 1,192,000.

Single-family housing starts in April were at a rate of 778,000; this is 3.3% above the revised March figure of 753,000. The April rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 373,000.

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,116,000. This is 3.6% above the revised March rate of 1,077,000 but 5.3% below the April 2015 estimate.

Single-family authorizations in April were at a rate of 736,000; this is 1.5% above the revised March figure of 725,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 348,000 in April.

Privately-owned housing completions in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 933,000. This is 11.0% below the revised March estimate of 1,048,000 and is 7.4% below the April 2015 rate of 1,008,000.

Single-family housing completions in April were at a rate of 691,000; this is 3.6% below the revised March rate of 717,000. The April rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 232,000.