BUILDING PERMITS
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 547,000. This is 3.0 percent (±3.5%) above the revised January rate of 531,000, but is 44.2 percent (±1.2%) below the revised February 2008 estimate of 981,000. Single-family authorizations in February were at a rate of 373,000; this is 11.0 percent (±2.1%) above the January figure of 336,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 156,000 in February.

HOUSING STARTS
Privately-owned housing starts in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 583,000. This is 22.2 percent (±13.8%) above the revised January estimate of 477,000, but is 47.3 percent (±5.3%) below the revised February 2008 rate of 1,107,000. Single-family housing starts in February were at a rate of 357,000; this is 1.1 percent (±11.0%) above the January figure of 353,000. The February rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 212,000.

HOUSING COMPLETIONS
Privately-owned housing completions in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 785,000. This is 2.3 percent (±14.8%) above the revised January estimate of 767,000, but is 37.3 percent (±7.7%) below the revised February 2008 rate of 1,251,000. Single-family housing completions in February were at a rate of 505,000; this is 8.2 percent (±11.8%) below the January figure of 550,000. The February rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 268,000.