Permits*

Permits for construction of new housing units were up a statistically insignificant 2 percent in the first quarter of 1999 at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,718,000 units, and were up 8 percent from the first quarter of 1998. One-unit permits, at 1,272,000 units, were up a statistically insignificant 2 percent from the level of the previous quarter and up 11 percent from a year earlier. Multifamily permits (5 or more units in structure), at 372,000 units, were a statistically insignificant 1 percent below the fourth quarter of 1998 but 3 percent above the first quarter of 1998.

*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 first quarter of 1999 totaled 1,792,000 units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, a statistically insignificant 5 percent above the fourth quarter of 1998 and 13 percent above the first quarter of 1998. Single-family starts, at 1,399,000 units, were a statistically insignificant 3 percent higher than the previous quarter and 12 percent above the year before. Multifamily starts totaled 352,000 units, a statistically insignificant 11 percent above the previous quarter and 24 percent above the same quarter in 1998.

*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 first quarter of 1999 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,035,000 units, 4 percent above the previous quarter and 14 percent above the first quarter of 1998. Single-family units stood at 716,000, a statistically insignificant 4 percent above the previous quarter and 16 percent above the first quarter of 1998. Multifamily units were at 294,000 units, up a statistically insignificant 4 percent from the previous quarter and up 12 percent from the first quarter of 1998.

*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 first quarter of 1999, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,634,000 units, were up 9 percent from the previous quarter and up 16 percent from the same quarter of 1998. Single-family completions, at 1,307,000 units, were up 10 percent from the previous quarter and up 20 percent from the rate of a year earlier. Multifamily completions, at 279,000 units, were a statistically insignificant 5 percent above the previous quarter but a statistically insignificant 1 percent below the same quarter of 1998.

*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 383,000 units in the fourth quarter of 1998, which is 2 percent above the previous quarter and 9 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