Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,285,000, 4.6 percent above the revised December rate of 1,228,000 and 8.2 percent above the January 2016 rate of 1,188,000. Privately-owned housing starts in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,246,000, 2.6 percent below the revised December estimate of 1,279,000, but 10.5 percent above the January 2016 rate of 1,128,000.
