BY BRAD BECKETT ON OCTOBER 22, 2018
The U.S. government is reporting that privately‐owned housing starts in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,201,000. This figure is 5.3% lower than August’s revised estimate but is 3.7% higher than one year ago. Single‐family housing starts in September were at a rate of 871k, which is 0.9% (±8.9 percent)* below August’s revised number. September’s rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 324k. Privately‐owned housing units authorized by building permits in September were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,241,000. This figure is 0.6% lower than August’s revised rate and is 1% below the September 2017. Single‐family authorizations in September were at a rate of 851k, which is 2.9% higher than August. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 351k.