Single-family housing starts in December 2012 were at a rate of 616,000, which is 8.1% above the revised November figure of 570,000, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Single-family authorizations in December were at a rate of 578,000; this is 1.8% above the revised November figure of 568,000.
Privately owned housing starts in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 954,000. This is 12.1% above the revised November estimate of 851,000 and is 36.9% above the December 2011 rate of 697,000. Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 903,000. This is 0.3% above the revised November rate of 900,000 and is 28.8% above the December 2011 estimate of 701,000.
The December rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 144,000.
An estimated 651,400 housing units were completed in 2012, which 11.4% above the 2011 figure of 584,900.