HOUSING STARTS AND BUILDING PERMITS IN JANUARY 1998 PRIVATELY OWNED HOUSING STARTS Privately owned housing starts in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,534,000, according to estimates reported today by the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of the Census. This is virtually unchanged (+/-7 percent) from the revised December rate of 1,538,000, but 10 (+/-7) percent above the revised January 1997 rate of 1,394,000. Single-family housing starts in January 1998 were at a rate of 1,196,000; this is 7 (+/-7) percent above the December figure of 1,118,000. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 283,000; this is 21 percent below the December estimate of 356,000. The January rate for units in buildings with two to four units was 55,000. Seasonally adjusted data are revised annually using the latest available information. The seasonally adjusted estimates of housing starts shown in this release have been revised. Revised monthly data for 1995, 1996, and 1997 will appear in the tables. BUILDING PERMITS The seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing units authorized by building permits in January was 1,534,000; this is 4 (+/-1) percent above the revised December rate of 1,482,000 and 10 (+/-2) percent above the January 1997 figure of 1,395,000. Single-family authorizations in January 1998 were at a rate of 1,133,000; this is 6 (+/-1) percent above the December figure of 1,071,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 325,000 in January. The January rate of permit-authorized units in buildings with two to four units was 76,000. MOBILE HOME SHIPMENTS Statistics on mobile home shipments, which lag by 1 month, appear in the Current Construction Reports, series C20. In December, manufacturers' shipments of mobile homes were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 353,000, virtually unchanged from the revised November figure of 352,000. The revised December 1996 rate was 340,000. Before seasonal adjustment, total shipments in December 1997 were 24,900. Seasonally adjusted statistics for manufacturers' shipments of mobile homes for January 1995 through November 1997 have been revised and will appear in the January 1998 Current Construction Reports, series C20. The next press release is scheduled to be issued on Tuesday, March 17, 1998, at 8:30 A.M. EST. EXPLANATORY NOTES In interpreting changes in the statistics in this release, note that month-to-month changes in seasonally adjusted statistics often show movements which may be irregular. It may take 4 months to establish an underlying trend for total starts, 3 months for building permit authorizations, and 2 months for mobile home shipments. Except for those on mobile home shipments, the statistics in this release are estimated from sample surveys and are subject to sampling variability as well as nonsampling error including bias and variance from response, nonreporting, and undercoverage. Estimated average relative standard errors of preliminary data are shown in the tables. Whenever a statement such as "2 (+/-3) percent above" appears in the text, this indicates the range (-1 to +5 percent) in which the actual percent change is likely to have occurred. All ranges given for percent changes are 90- percent confidence intervals and account only for sampling variability. If a range contains zero, it is uncertain whether there was an increase or decrease; that is, the change is not statistically significant. For any comparison cited without a confidence interval, the change is statistically significant. The January 1998 Current Construction Reports, C20/98-1, will include explanations of confidence intervals and sampling variability. On average, the preliminary seasonally adjusted estimates of total housing starts and building permits are revised about +/-1 percent. Statistics on mobile home shipments are compiled from manufacturers' reports to the National Conference of States on Building Codes and Standards (NCSBCS). Questions regarding these data may be directed to the Manufacturing and Construction Division, Residential Construction Branch, telephone (301)457-4703. NEW PRIVATELY OWNED HOUSING UNITS STARTED BY TYPE OF STRUCTURE: JANUARY 1998 In structures with - 3 and 4 5 units Period Total 1 unit 2 units units or more Seasonally adjusted annual rate 1995(r) January 1,407 1,083 44 280 February 1,316 1,053 43 220 March 1,249 996 37 216 April 1,267 1,013 23 231 May 1,314 1,024 35 255 June 1,281 1,022 34 225 July 1,461 1,133 42 286 August 1,416 1,138 31 247 September 1,369 1,095 39 235 October 1,369 1,128 26 215 November 1,452 1,131 30 291 December 1,431 1,168 29 234 1996(r) January 1,485 1,150 23 312 February 1,505 1,170 34 301 March 1,423 1,153 24 246 April 1,515 1,213 56 246 May 1,490 1,151 51 288 June 1,464 1,201 49 214 July 1,488 1,154 48 286 August 1,540 1,233 38 269 September 1,455 1,132 43 280 October 1,398 1,108 51 239 November 1,491 1,128 61 302 December 1,384 1,065 46 273 1997(r) January 1,394 1,138 42 214 February 1,547 1,231 42 274 March 1,477 1,139 44 294 April 1,480 1,134 41 305 May 1,404 1,095 34 275 June 1,502 1,132 40 330 July 1,461 1,144 38 279 August 1,383 1,076 43 264 September 1,501 1,174 45 282 October 1,529 1,124 64 341 November 1,523 1,167 40 316 December 1,538 1,118 64 356 1998 - JANUARY (p) 1,534 1,196 55 283 AVG. RSE(%) 3 3 14 7 Not seasonally adjusted 1996 1,476.8 1,160.9 16.4 28.8 270.8 1997(r) 1,474.0 1,133.1 18.0 26.6 296.3 AVG. RSE(%) 1 1 6 9 2 1997 - January 82.2 66.6 0.6 1.5 13.5 February 94.7 75.1 1.4 1.1 17.1 March 120.4 96.1 0.9 2.6 20.7 April 142.3 109.5 1.8 2.2 28.9 May 136.3 106.2 1.2 1.9 27.0 June 140.4 108.8 1.4 2.6 27.5 July 134.6 107.4 1.9 1.5 23.7 August 126.5 98.8 1.5 2.0 24.2 September 139.2 108.3 2.2 2.0 26.7 October 139.0 99.2 2.0 4.4 33.4 November(r) 112.4 83.7 1.6 2.2 25.0 December (r) 106.1 73.3 1.7 2.5 28.6 1998 - JANUARY (p) 91.3 71.5 1.1 1.5 17.2 AVG. RSE(%) 3 3 13 21 7 Thousands of units. Detail may not add to total because of rounding. AVG. RSE(%): Annual - Avg. RSE for the last two years. YTD - Avg. RSE for the current period and the same period last year. Monthly - Avg. RSE for the latest six month period (January-June or July-December). (p) Preliminary. (r) Revised. (X) Not applicable. (Z) Less than 50 units or less than 0.5 percent. Source: Construction Reports, Series C20, Housing Starts. The C20 Report is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office. Annual subscription: $21.00. Questions regarding these data may be directed to the Manufacturing and Construction Division, Residential Construction Branch, telephone (301)457-4703. NEW PRIVATELY OWNED HOUSING UNITS STARTED BY REGION: JANUARY 1998 North- Mid- Period Total east west South West Seasonally adjusted annual rate 1995(r) January 1,407 127 289 656 335 February 1,316 130 285 564 337 March 1,249 125 276 571 277 April 1,267 108 278 567 314 May 1,314 130 260 580 344 June 1,281 126 287 559 309 July 1,461 115 281 723 342 August 1,416 119 323 633 341 September 1,369 112 299 600 358 October 1,369 126 284 607 352 November 1,452 99 323 699 331 December 1,431 102 306 667 356 1996(r) January 1,485 98 351 638 398 February 1,505 130 305 652 418 March 1,423 139 323 642 319 April 1,515 138 328 650 399 May 1,490 128 322 695 345 June 1,464 135 295 664 370 July 1,488 122 357 665 344 August 1,540 135 339 685 381 September 1,455 138 309 666 342 October 1,398 139 280 609 370 November 1,491 121 334 686 350 December 1,384 147 303 651 283 1997(r) January 1,394 174 262 608 350 February 1,547 135 375 673 364 March 1,477 152 303 653 369 April 1,480 135 297 698 350 May 1,404 123 297 624 360 June 1,502 116 311 707 368 July 1,461 146 302 668 345 August 1,383 126 277 645 335 September 1,501 139 304 696 362 October 1,529 113 328 714 374 November 1,523 182 272 661 408 December 1,538 127 337 674 400 1998 - JANUARY(p) 1,534 150 335 657 392 AVG. RSE(%) 3 9 6 4 3 Not seasonally adjusted 1996 1,476.8 132.1 321.5 661.9 361.4 1997(r) 1,474.0 136.7 303.7 670.2 363.4 AVG. RSE (%) 1 1 2 2 1 1997 - January 82.2 8.5 10.5 39.8 23.3 February 94.7 6.2 16.3 47.4 24.8 March 120.4 11.1 22.3 55.5 31.4 April 142.3 13.1 28.4 68.6 32.2 May 136.3 11.7 31.5 58.8 34.4 June 140.4 11.6 31.9 62.3 34.5 July 134.6 14.6 30.0 58.9 31.1 August 126.5 11.6 28.1 55.5 31.3 September 139.2 13.7 29.7 62.6 33.1 October 139.0 11.2 34.0 60.9 33.0 November (r) 112.4 14.7 21.2 49.4 27.1 December (r) 106.1 8.7 19.8 50.5 27.1 1998 - JANUARY (p) 91.3 8.0 14.1 42.6 26.6 AVG. RSE (%) 3 9 6 4 3 Thousands of units. Detail may not add to total because of rounding. AVG. RSE(%): Annual - Avg. RSE for the last two years. YTD - Avg. RSE for the current period and the same period last year. Monthly - Avg. RSE for the latest six month period (January-June or July-December). (p) Preliminary. (r) Revised. (X) Not applicable. (Z) Less than 50 units or less than 0.5 percent. Source: Construction Reports, Series C20, Housing Starts. The C20 Report is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office. Annual subscription: $21.00. Questions regarding these data may be directed to the Manufacturing and Construction Division, Residential Construction Branch, telephone (301)457-4703. PRIVATELY OWNED HOUSING UNITS AUTHORIZED BY BUILDING PERMITS IN PERMIT-ISSUING PLACES BY TYPE OF STRUCTURE: JANUARY 1998 In structures with - 3 and 4 5 units Period Total 1 unit 2 units units or more Seasonally adjusted annual rate (19,000 permit-issuing places) 1997 - January 1,395 1,052 62 281 February 1,438 1,069 68 301 March 1,457 1,034 71 352 April 1,442 1,060 68 314 May 1,432 1,053 66 313 June 1,402 1,049 70 283 July 1,414 1,030 77 307 August 1,397 1,027 66 304 September 1,460 1,065 69 326 October 1,487 1,087 77 323 November 1,440 1,061 58 321 December (r) 1,482 1,071 92 319 1998 - JANUARY (p) 1,534 1,133 76 325 AVG. RSE(%) 1 1 4 2 Not seasonally adjusted (19,000 permit-issuing places) 1996 1,425.6 1,069.5 33.6 32.2 290.3 1997(r) 1,442.3 1,055.6 35.2 35.3 316.1 AVG. RSE(%) 1 1 2 3 1 1997 - January 88.9 66.0 2.0 1.7 19.2 February 92.8 70.2 2.3 2.0 18.3 March 120.1 88.5 3.0 2.8 25.8 April 137.0 103.8 3.3 3.3 26.6 May 131.8 100.5 2.9 3.0 25.3 June 131.6 99.6 3.3 3.5 25.2 July 132.5 98.2 3.3 3.5 27.5 August 124.2 90.6 2.7 2.9 28.0 September 134.6 94.0 3.0 3.4 34.1 October 135.3 96.4 4.0 4.2 30.7 November 99.8 71.7 2.3 2.2 23.5 December (r) 107.6 72.7 3.0 3.2 28.8 1998 - JANUARY (p) 93.9 68.2 2.2 2.1 21.5 AVG. RSE(%) 1 1 5 7 2 Not started at end of period - not seasonally adjusted (19,000 permit-issuing places) 1997 - January 131.8 70.7 4.1 56.9 1997 - November (r) 108.8 60.1 3.7 45.0 December (r) 111.3 63.9 3.3 44.0 1998 - JANUARY (p) 112.7 65.3 3.6 43.8 AVG. RSE(%) 3 3 10 6 Thousands of units. Detail may not add to total because of rounding. AVG. RSE(%): Annual - Avg. RSE for the last two years. YTD - Avg. RSE for the current period and the same period last year. Monthly - Avg. RSE for the latest six month period (January-June or July-December). (p) Preliminary. (r) Revised. (X) Not applicable. (Z) Less than 50 units or less than 0.5 percent. Source: Construction Reports, Series C20, Housing Starts. The C20 Report is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office. Annual subscription: $21.00. Questions regarding these data may be directed to the Manufacturing and Construction Division, Residential Construction Branch, telephone (301)457-4703. PRIVATELY OWNED HOUSING UNITS AUTHORIZED BY BUILDING PERMITS IN PERMIT-ISSUING PLACES BY REGION: JANUARY 1998 North- Mid- Period Total east west South West Seasonally adjusted annual rate (19,000 permit-issuing places) 1997 - January 1,395 146 299 600 350 February 1,438 164 312 610 352 March 1,457 153 307 652 345 April 1,442 127 316 651 348 May 1,432 129 298 632 373 June 1,402 135 296 641 330 July 1,414 133 276 656 349 August 1,397 134 283 614 366 September 1,460 135 300 638 387 October 1,487 126 286 684 391 November 1,440 136 290 633 381 December (r) 1,482 154 316 620 392 1998 - JANUARY (P) 1,534 170 341 644 379 AVG. RSE(%) 1 2 2 1 1 Not seasonally adjusted (19,000 permit-issuing places) 1996 1,425.6 136.9 317.8 623.4 347.4 1997(r) 1,442.3 141.8 298.2 637.9 364.4 AVG. RSE(%) 1 1 1 1 1 1997 - January 88.9 8.2 13.4 44.1 23.1 February 92.8 8.1 15.9 44.5 24.3 March 120.1 11.3 24.1 55.9 28.8 April 137.0 12.4 31.4 61.5 31.7 May 131.8 12.6 29.3 56.6 33.2 June 131.6 13.6 28.2 57.4 32.3 July 132.5 13.3 27.2 58.2 33.7 August 124.2 12.5 27.0 52.5 32.1 September 134.6 12.3 29.1 57.8 35.3 October 135.3 12.1 29.6 58.6 35.1 November 99.8 10.5 21.1 43.5 24.6 December (r) 107.6 10.7 20.7 47.1 29.1 1998 - JANUARY (p) 93.9 9.6 14.9 45.3 24.0 AVG. RSE(%) 1 2 2 1 1 Not started at end of period - not seasonally adjusted (19,000 permit-issuing places) 1997 - January 131.8 14.8 19.4 71.5 26.1 1997 - November (r) 108.8 10.1 13.2 61.3 24.2 December (r) 111.3 11.4 13.8 59.1 26.9 1998 - JANUARY (p) 112.7 12.3 14.1 63.0 23.3 AVG. RSE(%) 3 9 9 4 5 Thousands of units. Detail may not add to total because of rounding. AVG. RSE(%): Annual - Avg. RSE for the last two years. YTD - Avg. RSE for the current period and the same period last year. Monthly - Avg. RSE for the latest six month period (January-June or July-December). (p) Preliminary. (r) Revised. (X) Not applicable. (Z) Less than 50 units or less than 0.5 percent. Source: Construction Reports, Series C20, Housing Starts. The C20 Report is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office. Annual subscription: $21.00. Questions regarding these data may be directed to the Manufacturing and Construction Division, Residential Construction Branch, telephone (301)457-4703.