Permits*

Permits for construction of new housing units were up 4 percent in the fourth quarter of 1997 at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,474,000 units and were up 7 percent from the fourth quarter of 1996. One-unit permits, at 1,075,000 units, were up 4 percent from the level of the previous quarter and 7 percent from a year earlier. Multifamily permits (5 or more units in structure), at 323,000 units, were 5 percent above the third quarter and 4 percent above the fourth quarter of 1996. Over the year 1997, 1,443,200 permits were issued, a statistically insignificant increase of 1 percent over 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 fourth quarter of 1997 totaled 1,526,000 units at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, a statistically insignificant 5 percent above the third quarter of 1997 and 8 percent above the fourth quarter of 1996. Single-family starts, at 1,125,000 units, were a statistically insignificant 1 percent below the previous quarter but a statistically insignificant 3 percent above the 1996 rate. Multifamily starts totaled 348,000 units, 27 percent above the previous quarter and the same quarter in 1996. In the year 1997, 1,475,900 housing units were started, unchanged from the previous year.

*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 1997 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 869,000 units, 3 percent above the previous quarter and 7 percent above the fourth quarter of 1996. Single-family units stood at 5Œ78,000, a statistically insignificant 1 percent above the previous quarter and the fourth quarter of 1996. Multifamily units were at 261,000 units, up 6 percent from the previous quarter and 21 percent from the fourth 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 fourth quarter of 1997, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,404,000 units, were up a statistically insignificant 3 percent from the previous quarter but down 2 percent from the same quarter of 1996. Single-family completions at 1,099,000 units were up a statistically insignificant 1 percent from the previous quarter but down 5 percent from the rate of a year earlier. Multifamily completions at 269,000 units were 15 percent above the previous quarter and 12 percent above the same quarter of 1996. In the year 1997 there were 1,397,000 units completed, a statistically insignificant decrease of 1 percent from 1996's annual rate.

*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 356,000 units in the third quarter of 1997, which is 1 percent below the previous quarter and 3 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