Permits*

Permits for construction of new housing units were up 7 percent in the fourth quarter of 1998, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,690,000 units, and were up 14 percent from the fourth quarter of 1997. One-unit permits, at 1,242,000 units, were up 6 percent from the level of the previous quarter and up 13 percent from a year earlier. Multifamily permits (5 or more units in structure), at 378,000 units, were 12 percent above the third quarter of 1998 and 22 percent above the fourth quarter of 1997. Over the year 1998, 1,603,000 permits were issued, an increase of 11 percent over 1997.

*Components may not add to totals because of rounding. Units in thousands. **This change is not statistically significant. Source: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce

Starts*

Construction starts of new housing units in the fourth quarter of 1998 totaled 1,692,000 units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, a statistically insignificant 4 percent above the third quarter of 1998 and 11 percent above the fourth quarter of 1997. Single-family starts, at 1,338,000 units, were 5 percent higher than the previous quarter and 17 percent above the year before. Multifamily starts totaled 316,000 units, a statistically insignificant 1 percent below the previous quarter and a statistically insignificant 4 percent below the same quarter in 1997. Over the year 1998, 1,615,600 housing units were started, a 10-percent increase over 1997.

*Components may not add to totals because of rounding. Units in thousands. **This change is not statistically significant. Source: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce

Under Construction*

Housing units under construction at the end of the fourth quarter of 1998 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,001,000 units, 6 percent above the previous quarter and 15 percent above the fourth quarter of 1997. Single-family units stood at 690,000, 6 percent above the previous quarter and 19 percent above the fourth quarter of 1997. Multifamily units were at 283,000 units, up a statistically insignificant 6 percent from the previous quarter and up 8 percent from the fourth quarter of 1997.

*Components may not add to totals because of rounding. Units in thousands. **This change is not statistically significant. Sources: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce; and Office of Policy Development and Research, Department of Housing and Urban Development

Completions*

Housing units completed in the fourth quarter of 1998, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,484,000 units, were down a statistically insignificant 2 percent from the previous quarter but up 5 percent from the same quarter of 1997. Single-family completions, at 1,180,000 units, were down a statistically insignificant 1 percent from the previous quarter but up 7 percent from the rate of a year earlier. Multifamily completions, at 259,000 units, were a statistically insignificant 6 percent below the previous quarter and a statistically insignificant 5 percent below the same quarter of 1997. In the year 1998, 1,472,300 units were completed, a 5-percent increase over 1997.

*Components may not add to totals because of rounding. Units in thousands. **This change is not statistically significant. Sources: Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce; and Office of Policy Development and Research, Department of Housing and Urban Development

Manufactured (Mobile) Home Shipments*

Shipments of new manufactured (mobile) homes were at a seasonally adjusted rate of 372,000 units in the third quarter of 1998, which is 1 percent above the previous quarter and 5 percent above the rate of a year earlier.

*Units in thousands. These are HUD-code homes only and do not include manufactured housing units built to meet local building codes, which are included in housing starts figures. Source: National Conference of States on Building Codes and Standards