∙ U.S. Building Permits and Housing Starts – May 2012

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Building Permits: Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 780,000. This is 7.9 percent (±1.0%) above the revised April rate of 723,000 and is 25.0 percent (±1.5%) above the May 2011 estimate of 624,000. Single-family authorizations in May were at a rate of 494,000; this is 4.0 percent (±0.8%) above the revised April figure of 475,000. Housing Starts: Privately-owned housing starts in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 708,000. This is 4.8 percent (±12.7%) below the revised April estimate of 744,000, but is 28.5 percent (±10.7%) above the May 2011 rate of 551,000. Single-family housing starts in May were at a rate of 516,000; this is 3.2 percent (±12.5%)* above the revised April figure of 500,000. Source: USDOC

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