June Housing Data Shows 6.9% Increase

The U.S. Census Bureau said privately-owned housing starts in June were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 760,000, 6.9% above the revised May estimate of 711,000 and is 23.6% above the June 2011 rate of 615,000. Single-family housing starts in June were at a rate of 539,000, 4.7% above the revised May figure of 515,000. The June rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 213,000.

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in June were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 755,000, 3.7% below the revised May rate of 784,000, but 19.3% above the June 2011 estimate of 633,000. Single-family authorizations in June were at a rate of 493,000; 0.6% above the revised May figure of 490,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 241,000 in June.