Permits*

Permits for construction of new housing units were down 7 percent in the second quarter of 1999, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,595,000 units but were up 4 percent from the second quarter of 1998. One-unit permits, at 1,229,000 units, were down 4 percent from the level of the previous quarter but up 6 percent from a year earlier. Multifamily permits (5 or more units in structure), at 303,000 units, were 19 percent below the first quarter of 1999 and 3 percent below the second 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 second quarter of 1999 totaled 1,604,000 units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, 9 percent below the first quarter of 1999 but a statistically insignificant 2 percent above the second quarter of 1998. Single-family starts, at 1,310,000 units, were a statistically insignificant 6 percent lower than the previous quarter but a statistically insignificant 5 percent above the year before. Multifamily starts totaled 266,000 units, 23 percent below the previous quarter and a statistically insignificant 5 percent below 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 second quarter of 1999 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,015,000 units, a statistically insignificant 2 percent below the previous quarter but 9 percent above the second quarter of 1998. Single-family units stood at 699,000, a statistically insignificant 2 percent below the previous quarter but 9 percent above the second quarter of 1998. Multifamily units were at 293,000 units, down a statistically insignificant 2 percent from the previous quarter but up 13 percent from the second 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 second quarter of 1999, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,662,000 units, were up a statistically insignificant 2 percent from the previous quarter and up 13 percent from the same quarter of 1998. Single-family completions, at 1,346,000 units, were up a statistically insignificant 4 percent from the previous quarter and up 17 percent from the rate of a year earlier. Multifamily completions, at 283,000 units, were a statistically insignificant 1 percent above the previous quarter and a statistically insignificant 2 percent above 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 385,000 units in the first quarter of 1999, which is unchanged from the previous quarter, but 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