October's new residential construction numbers increased for
building permit authorization, fluctuated for housing starts, and
decreased for housing completions.

Building permit authorization increased in October compared to both September 2014 and October 2013. Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in October rose 4.8 percent above September, reaching 1,080,000 from 1,031,000. This is a 1.2 percent increase from October 2013's estimate of 1,067,000. Single-family authorizations reached 640,000, rising 1.4 percent from September's figure of 631,000.

Housing starts fluctuated with a general trend of increasing. Privately-owned housing starts in October 2014 decreased 2.8 percent from September, reaching 1,009,000 from 1,038,000. However, this is a 7.8 percent increase from the October 2013 rate of 936,000. Single-family housing starts reached 696,000, increasing 4.2 percent from September's figure of 668,000.

Housing completions had an overall decrease. Privately-owned housing completions in October were at a seasonally adjusted rate of 881,000, an 8.8 percent decrease from September's estimate of 966,000. This is 8.1 percent above October 2013's rate of 815,000. Single-family completions were at a rate of 585,000, decreasing 7.4 percent from September's rate of 632,000.