US Census Bureau report on new residential construction in December 2005 show slowing housing starts

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NEW RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION IN DECEMBER 2005

The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for December 2005:

B UILDING PERMITS

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2,068,000. This is 4.4 percent (�0.9%) below the revised November rate of 2,163,000 and is 0.6 percent (�1.2%)* below the December 2004 estimate of 2,081,000.

Single-family authorizations in December were at a rate of 1,637,000; this is 5.0 percent (�0.9%) below the November figure of 1,724,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 347,000 in December.

An estimated 2,141,200 housing units were authorized by building permits in 2005. This is 3.4 percent (�0.7%) above the

2004 figure of 2,071,100.