Government Reports July 2009 Residential Home Construction Numbers

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(News Source: U.S. Census Bureau & H.U.D.)

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for July 2009:

BUILDING PERMITS

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 560,000. This is 1.8 percent (±1.4%) below the revised June rate of 570,000 and is 39.4 percent (±1.8%) below the July 2008 estimate of 924,000.

Single-family authorizations in July were at a rate of 458,000; this is 5.8 percent (±1.1%) above the revised June figure of 433,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 84,000 in July.

HOUSING STARTS

Privately-owned housing starts in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 581,000. This is 1.0 percent (±8.5%)* below the revised June estimate of 587,000 and is 37.7 percent (±5.1%) below the July 2008 rate of 933,000.

Single-family housing starts in July were at a rate of 490,000; this is 1.7 percent (±7.1%)* above the revised June figure of 482,000. The July rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 80,000.

HOUSING COMPLETIONS

Privately-owned housing completions in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 802,000. This is 0.9 percent (±10.1%) below the revised June estimate of 809,000 and is 26.4 percent (±6.9%) below the July 2008 rate of 1,089,000.

Single-family housing completions in July were at a rate of 491,000; this is 4.1 percent (±8.9%)* below the revised June figure of 512,000. The July rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 297,000.

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