U.S. Census Bureau: Monthly New Residential Construction, August 2021

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for August 2021:

Building Permits

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,728,000. This is 6.0 percent (±1.4 percent) above the revised July rate of 1,630,000 and is 13.5 percent (±1.8 percent) above the August 2020 rate of 1,522,000. Single-family authorizations in August were at a rate of 1,054,000; this is 0.6 percent (±1.3 percent)* above the revised July figure of 1,048,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 632,000 in August.

Housing Starts

Privately-owned housing starts in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,615,000. This is 3.9 percent (±11.3 percent)* above the revised July estimate of 1,554,000 and is 17.4 percent (±12.1 percent) above the August 2020 rate of 1,376,000. Single-family housing starts in August were at a rate of 1,076,000; this is 2.8 percent (±10.4 percent)* below the revised July figure of 1,107,000. The August rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 530,000.

Housing Completions

Privately-owned housing completions in August were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,330,000. This is 4.5 percent (±11.1 percent)* below the revised July estimate of 1,392,000, but is 9.4 percent (±10.3 percent)* above the August 2020 rate of 1,216,000. Single-family housing completions in August were at a rate of 971,000; this is 2.8 percent (±9.6 percent)* above the revised July rate of 945,000. The August rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 356,000.

For the full August report, click here.

The September report is scheduled for release on October 19, 2021. View the full schedule in the Economic Briefing Room: <www.census.gov/economic-indicators/>. The full text and tables for this release can be found at
<www.census.gov/construction/nrc/>.

Statement Regarding Natural Disasters: For information on the impact of natural disasters, including hurricanes, on the compilation of this report, please see the Natural Disaster FAQs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau