National new home construction metrics; February 2021

MONTHLY NEW RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION, FEBRUARY 2021
Release Number: CB21-41
March 17, 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 February 2021:
NEW RESIDENTIALCONSTRUCTION
FEBRUARY 2021
Building Permits: 1,682,000
Housing Starts: 1,421,000
Housing Completions: 1,362,000
Next Release: April 16, 2021
Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, HUD, March 17, 2021
Building Permits
Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,682,000. This is 10.8 percent (±1.0 percent) below the revised January rate of 1,886,000, but is 17.0 percent (±1.4 percent) above the February 2020 rate of 1,438,000. Single-family authorizations in February were at a rate of 1,143,000; this is 10.0 percent (±0.8 percent) below the revised January figure of 1,270,000. Authorizations of units
in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 495,000 in February.
Housing Starts
Privately-owned housing starts in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,421,000. This is 10.3 percent (±10.5 percent)* below the revised January estimate of 1,584,000 and is 9.3 percent (±9.4 percent)* below the February 2020 rate of 1,567,000. Single-family housing starts in February were at a rate of 1,040,000; this is 8.5 percent (±9.3 percent)* below the revised January figure of 1,136,000. The February rate for units in buildings with
five units or more was 372,000.
Housing Completions
Privately-owned housing completions in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,362,000. This is 2.9 percent (±10.0 percent)* above the revised January estimate of 1,324,000 and is 5.0 percent (±11.9 percent)* above the February 2020 rate of 1,297,000. Single-family housing completions in February were at a rate of 1,042,000; this is 2.8 percent (±10.5 percent)* above the revised January rate of 1,014,000. The February rate for units in buildings
with five units or more was 314,000.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, HUD, March 17, 2021
Data Inquiries Media Inquiries
Economic Indicators Division, Residential Construction Branch Public Information Office
301-763-5160 301-763-3030
eid.rcb.customer.service@census.gov pio@census.gov
The March report is scheduled for release on April 16, 2021.