Single-family housing starts in January were at a rate of 1.819 million; this is 12.8 percent above the December figure of 1.613 million. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 427,000.

?EUR??,,????'??The January surge in housing starts was mainly weather-related,?EUR??,,????'?? said NAHB Chief Economist David Seiders. ?EUR??,,????'??Market fundamentals suggest that this pace of activity will be hard to sustain, and NAHB?EUR??,,????'???s survey of single-family builders points toward some cooling down in coming months, largely because of eroding affordability conditions.?EUR??,,????'??

Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits n January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 2.217 million. This is 6.8 percent above the revised December rate of 2.075 million and is 3.8 percent above the January 2005 estimate of 2.136 million.

Single-family authorizations in January were at a rate of 1.685 million; this is 2.4 percent above the December figure of 1.645 million. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 428,000 in January.

Privately owned housing completions in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.971 million. This is 1.1 percent above the revised December estimate of 1.950 million and is 4.7 percent above the January 2005 rate of 1.883 million.

Single-family housing completions in January were at a rate of 1.599 million; this is 4.1 percent below the December figure of 1.667 million. The January rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 327,000.