Single-family housing starts in February were at a rate of 618,000, which is 0.5% above the revised January figure of 615,000, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Privately owned housing starts in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 917,000, which is 0.8% above the revised January estimate of 910,000 and is 27.7% above the February 2012 rate of 718,000. Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 946,000. This is 4.6% above the revised January rate of 904,000 and is 33.8% above the February 2012 estimate of 707,000.
The February rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 130,000. Privately owned housing completions in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 711,000. This is 0.6% below the revised January estimate of 715,000, but is 24.3% above the February 2012 rate of 572,000.