The U.S. Census Dept. said November housing starts were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 555,000. This is 3.9 percent above the revised October estimate of 534,000, but 5.8 percent below the November 2009 rate of 589,000. Single-family housing starts in November were at a rate of 465,000, 6.9 percent above the revised October figure of 435,000. The November rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 72,000.
November building permits were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 530,000. This is four percent below the revised October rate of 552,000 and is 14.7 percent below the November 2009 estimate of 621,000. Single-family authorizations in November were at a rate of 416,000; three percent above the revised October figure of 404,000. Permits for buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 94,000 in November.