Permits*

Permits for construction of new housing units were down 4 percent in the second quarter of 1998 at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,526,000 units but were up 8 percent from the second quarter of 1997. One-unit permits, at 1,141,000 units, were down a statistically insignificant 1 percent from the level of the previous quarter but up 9 percent from a year earlier. Multifamily permits (5 or more units in structure), at 321,000 units, were 12 percent below the first quarter of 1998 but 8 percent above the second quarter of 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 second quarter of 1998 totaled 1,564,000 units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, a statistically insignificant 1 percent below the first quarter of 1998 but 7 percent above the second quarter of 1997. Single-family starts, at 1,235,000 units, were a statistically insignificant 1 percent lower than the previous quarter but 10 percent above the year before. Multifamily starts totaled 282,000 units, a statistically insignificant 2 percent below the previous quarter and a statistically insignificant 7 percent below same quarter in 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 second quarter of 1998 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 925,000 units, a statistically insignificant 1 percent above the previous quarter and 12 percent above the second quarter of 1997. Single-family units stood at 635,000, a statistically insignificant 3 percent above the previous quarter and 12 percent above the second quarter of 1997. Multifamily units were at 258,000 units, down a statistically insignificant 2 percent from the previous quarter and up 9 percent from the second 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 second quarter of 1998, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,484,000 units, were up a statistically insignificant 4 percent from the previous quarter and up 7 percent from the same quarter of 1997. Single-family completions, at 1,158,000 units, were up 6 percent from the previous quarter and 4 percent from the rate of a year earlier. Multifamily completions, at 281,000 units, were a statistically insignificant 2 percent below the previous quarter but 24 percent above the same 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

Manufactured (Mobile) Home Shipments*

Shipments of new manufactured (mobile) homes were at a seasonally adjusted rate of 371,000 units in the first quarter of 1998, which is 6 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