The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced January 2013 residential construction statistics:

BUILDING PERMITS 

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 925,000.  This is 1.8 percent above the revised December rate of 909,000.

Single-family authorizations in January were at a rate of 584,000; this is 1.9 percent above the revised December figure of 573,000.  Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 311,000 in January.

HOUSING STARTS 

Privately-owned housing starts in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 890,000.  This is 8.5 percent below the revised December estimate of 973,000, but is 23.6 percent  above the January 2012 rate of 720,000.

Single-family housing starts in January were at a rate of 613,000; this is 0.8 percent above the revised December figure of 608,000. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 260,000.

HOUSING COMPLETIONS 

Privately-owned housing completions in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 724,000, 6 percent above the revised December estimate of 683,000.