US: Building permits in December decreased by 0.1% to 1,302,000

"Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,302,000. This is 0.1 percent below the revised November rate of 1,303,000, but is 2.8 percent above the December 2016 rate of 1,266,000," the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced on Thursday.

Key highlights

An estimated 1,263,400 housing units were authorized by building permits in 2017. This is 4.7 percent above the 2016 figure of 1,206,600.

Privately-owned housing starts in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,192,000. 

 This is 8.2 percent below the revised November estimate of 1,299,000 and is 6.0 percent below the December 2016 rate of 1,268,000. 

Privately-owned housing completions in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,177,000.

This is 2.2 percent above the revised November estimate of 1,152,000 and is 7.4 percent above the December 2016 rate of 1,096,000.