January privately-owned housing starts were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 596,000, 14.6 percent above the revised December estimate of 520,000, but 2.6 percent below the January 2010 rate of 612,000, according to the U.S. Census Dept. Single-family housing starts in January were at a rate of 413,000, one percent below the revised December figure of 417,000. The January rate for buildings with five units or more was 171,000.
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 562,000, 10.4 percent below the revised December rate of 627,000 and 10.7 percent below the January 2010 estimate of 629,000. Single-family permits in January were at a rate of 421,000, 4.8 percent below the revised December figure of 442,000.