by Calculated Risk on 5/16/2008 08:39:00 AM

The Census Bureau reports on housing Permits, Starts and Completions.

Building permits increased:

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 978,000. This is 4.9 percent above the revised March rate of 932,000, but is 34.3 percent below the revised April 2007 estimate of 1,489,000.

Housing starts increased:

Privately-owned housing starts in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,032,000. This is 8.2 percent above the
revised March estimate of 954,000, but is 30.6 percent below the revised April 2007 rate of 1,487,000.

Housing Completions declined:

Privately-owned housing completions in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,000,000. This is 16.0 percent below the revised March estimate of 1,190,000 and is 34.9 percent below the revised April 2007 rate of 1,535,000.

The graph shows Total housing starts vs. Single family housing starts.

This graph shows that single family starts are at the lowest level since 1991.

More on starts and completions later.