The Commerce Department reported this week that privately-owned housing starts in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,211,000. This is 2.1% above the revised June estimate of 1,186,000 and is 5.6% above the July 2015 rate of 1,147,000. Single-family housing starts in July were at a rate of 770k – this number is 0.5% above the revised June figure of 766k. The July rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 433k.
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,152,000. This is 0.1% below the revised June rate of 1,153,000, but is 0.9% above the July 2015 estimate of 1,142,000. Single-family authorizations in July were at a rate of 711k – this number is 3.7% below the revised June figure of 738k. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 411k in July.
