Building permits dip, housing starts rise in August

August housing report mixed.August housing report mixed.

The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development report on August housing statistics show the following:

Building permits: Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 803,000. This is 1.0 percent (±1.2%) below the revised July rate of 811,000, but is 24.5 percent (±1.7%) above the August 2011 estimate of 645,000. Single-family authorizations in August were at a rate of 512,000; this is 0.2 percent (±0.8%)* above the revised July figure of 511,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 263,000 in August.

Housing starts: Privately-owned housing starts in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 750,000. This is 2.3 percent (±10.2%) above the revised July estimate of 733,000 and is 29.1 percent (±12.8%) above the August 2011 rate of 581,000. Single-family housing starts in August were at a rate of 535,000; this is 5.5 percent (±10.4%) above the revised July figure of 507,000.  The August rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 208,000.

Housing completions: Privately-owned housing completions in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 689,000. This is 0.7 percent (±18.8%) above the revised July estimate of 684,000 and is 11.7 percent (±17.5%)nabove the August 2011 rate of 617,000. Single-family housing completions in August were at a rate of 489,000; this is 5.4 percent (±14.3%) above the revised July rate of 464,000. The August rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 193,000.