The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for August 2024:
Building Permits
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,475,000. This is 4.9 percent above the revised July rate of 1,406,000, but is 6.5 percent below the August 2023 rate of 1,578,000. Single-family authorizations in August were at a rate of 967,000; this is 2.8 percent above the revised July figure of 941,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 451,000 in August.
Housing Starts
Privately-owned housing starts in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,356,000. This is 9.6 percent (±11.4 percent)* above the revised July estimate of 1,237,000 and is 3.9 percent (±13.0 percent)* above the August 2023 rate of 1,305,000. Single-family housing starts in August were at a rate of 992,000; this is 15.8 percent (±12.0 percent) above the revised July figure of 857,000. The August rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 333,000.
Housing Completions
Privately-owned housing completions in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,788,000. This is 9.2 percent (±28.2 percent)* above the revised July estimate of 1,637,000 and is 30.2 percent (±31.9 percent)* above the August 2023 rate of 1,373,000. Single-family housing completions in August were at a rate of 1,029,000; this is 5.6 percent (±11.9 percent)* below the revised July rate of 1,090,000. The August rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 740,000.