Building Permits Continue to Trickle In

Nationally, housing permits declined 13.3 percent overall, compared to March 2010, with declines of 25.3 percent for single units and 27.3 percent of 2 to 3 units. Five or more units increased 45 percent in the last year.

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in March were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 594,000. This is 11.2 percent above the revised February rate of 534,000, but is 13.3 percent below the March 2010 estimate of 685,000.

Single-family authorizations in March were at a rate of 405,000; this is 5.7 percent above the revised February figure of 383,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 173,000 in March.

The Northeast was the region that fared the best with an overall decline of 5.9 percent and 23.1 percent for single units. The region that fared the poorest was the Midwest, with declines of 20.5 percent overall and 26.7 percent for single units.

- Courtesy of U.S. Census Bureau