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.
