by Calculated Risk on 8/16/2012 08:57:00 AM

From the Census Bureau: Permits, Starts and Completions

Housing Starts:
Privately-owned housing starts in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 746,000. This is 1.1 percent below the revised June estimate of 754,000, but is 21.5 percent above the July 2011 rate of 614,000.

Single-family housing starts in July were at a rate of 502,000; this is 6.5 percent below the revised June figure of 537,000. The July rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 229,000.

Building Permits:
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 812,000. This is 6.8 percent above the revised June rate of 760,000 and is 29.5 percent above the July 2011 estimate of 627,000.

Single-family authorizations in July were at a rate of 513,000; this is 4.5 percent above the revised June figure of 491,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 274,000 in July.

Click on graph for larger image.

Total housing starts were at 746 thousand (SAAR) in July, down 1.1% from the revised June rate of 754 thousand (SAAR). Note that June was revised from 760 thousand.

Single-family starts decreased 6.5% to 502 thousand in July.

The second graph shows total and single unit starts since 1968.

This shows the huge collapse following the housing bubble, and that total housing starts have been increasing lately after moving sideways for about two years and a half years.

Total starts are up 56% from the bottom start rate, and single family starts are up 42% from the low.

This was slightly below expectations of 750 thousand starts in July, but the key is starts are up solidly from last year. Right now starts are on pace to be up about 20% from 2011. Also note that total permits were at the highest level since 2008.

All Housing Investment and Construction Graphs