The US Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced that privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,138,000. This is 0.7 percent (±1.3 percent) above the revised April rate of 1,130,000, but is 10.1 percent (±1.8 percent) below the May 2015 estimate of 1,266,000.
Single-family authorizations in May were at a rate of 726,000; this is 2.0 percent (±0.9 percent) below the revised April figure of 741,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 381,000 in May.
Privately-owned housing starts in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,164,000. This is 0.3 percent (±14.0 percent) below the revised April estimate of 1,167,000, but is 9.5 percent (±16.0 percent) above the May 2015 rate of 1,063,000.
Single-family housing starts in May were at a rate of 764,000; this is 0.3 percent (±13.8 percent) above the revised April figure of 762,000. The May rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 396,000.
Privately-owned housing completions in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 988,000. This is 5.1 percent (±15.5 percent) above the revised April estimate of 940,000, but is 3.5 percent (±13.1 percent) below the May 2015 rate of 1,024,000.
Single-family housing completions in May were at a rate of 717,000; this is 2.3 percent (±14.8 percent) above the revised April rate of 701,000. The May rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 263,000.