Permits*

Permits for construction of new housing units were unchanged in the third quarter of 1997 at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,419,000 units and were unchanged from the third quarter of 1996. One-unit permits, at 1,038,000 units, were down a statistically insignificant 1 percent from the level of the previous quarter and down 2 percent from a year earlier. Multifamily permits (5 or more units in structure), at 308,000 units, were a statistically insignificant 2 percent above the second quarter and 5 percent above the third quarter of 1996.

*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 third quarter of 1997 totalled 1,452,000 units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, a statistically insignificant 1 percent above the second quarter of 1997 and a statistically insignificant 3 percent below the third quarter of 1996. Single-family starts, at 1,138,000 units, were a statistically insignificant 3 percent higher than the previous quarter and 3 percent below the 1996 rate. Multifamily starts totalled 276,000 units, a statistically insignificant 6 percent below the previous quarter and a statistically insignificant 1 percent above the same quarter in 1996.

*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 third quarter of 1997 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 840,000 units, a statistically insignificant 1 percent above the previous quarter and 2 percent above the third quarter of 1996. Single-family units stood at 570,000, a statistically insignificant 3 percent below the previous quarter and 4 percent below the third quarter of 1996. Multifamily units were at 246,000 units, up a statistically insignificant 4 percent from the previous quarter and 18 percent from the third quarter of 1996.

*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 third quarter of 1997, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,359,000 units, were down 1 percent from the previous quarter and 4 percent from the same quarter of 1996. Single-family completions at 1,090,000 units were down 2 percent from the previous quarter and 4 percent from the rate of a year earlier. Multifamily completions at 232,000 units were 1 percent above the previous quarter and 7 percent below the same quarter of 1996. None of these changes were statistically significant.

*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 annual rate of 361,000 units in the second quarter of 1997, which is 4 percent above the previous quarter and 2 percent below the rate of the same quarter 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