The following is the unedited transcript of the news release from the U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce.


BUILDING PERMITS

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 854,000. This is 8.9 percent (±1.5%) below the revised July rate of 937,000 and is 36.4 percent (±1.5%) below the revised August 2007 estimate of 1,343,000.

Single-family authorizations in August were at a rate of 554,000; this is 5.1 percent (±1.3%) below the July figure of 584,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 271,000 in August.

HOUSING STARTS

Privately-owned housing starts in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 895,000. This is 6.2 percent (±9.2%)* below the revised July estimate of 954,000 and is 33.1 percent (±6.7%) below the revised August 2007 rate of 1,337,000.

Single-family housing starts in August were at a rate of 630,000; this is 1.9 percent (±8.9%)* below the July figure of 642,000. TheAugust rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 251,000.

HOUSING COMPLETIONS

Privately-owned housing completions in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 961,000. This is 9.8 percent (±11.5%) below the revised July estimate of 1,065,000 and is 35.8 percent (±7.7%) below the revised August 2007 rate of 1,498,000.

Single-family housing completions in August were at a rate of 676,000; this is 17.0 percent (±10.6%) below the July figure of 814,000. The August rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 269,000.


Available at:

http://www.census.gov/const/newresconst.pdf