Housing Starts Soar 12.1% in December 2012
Highest level of new home production since June 2008 remains 40 percent below normal, single-family permits up 1.8%
Solid gains in both single-family and multifamily housing production lifted nationwide housing starts 12.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 954,000 units in December, according to U.S. Commerce Department data. This is the highest level of new home production since June of 2008, but remains 40 percent below normal, which the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) defines as an average of starts between 2000 and 2003.
December Brings Off the Charts Increase in U.S. Housing Starts
“Builders have become increasingly optimistic about conditions in local housing markets in recent months and this report underscores that the housing recovery is well on its way,” said Barry Rutenberg, chairman of NAHB and a home builder from Gainesville, Fla. “With inventories of new homes at razor thin levels, builders are moving prudently to break ground on new construction ahead of the spring buying season to meet increasing demand.”
Home Builder Confidence Continues Improving in December 2012
“Overall, this report represents a solid ending to 2012 and a promising start to 2013,” said NAHB senior economist Robert Denk. “Multifamily production is almost back to normal levels and while single-family starts still have a way to go, they are gaining momentum. This trend could be even stronger if not for persistently tight credit conditions for home buyers, flawed appraisal values and uncertainties regarding economic policy debates in Washington.”
Housing Remains on Growth Track for 2013
Single-family housing starts rose 8.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 616,000 units in December, while multifamily production jumped 23.1 percent, to 338,000 units.
Combined single-family and multifamily starts activity was up across all regions in December:
- Northeast: +21.4 percent
- Midwest: +24.7 percent
- South: +3.8 percent
- West: +18.7 percent
Permit issuance, which can indicate future building activity, held virtually steady at a 903,000-unit rate in December. Single-family permits rose for a fourth consecutive month, by 1.8 percent to 578,000 units while multifamily permits declined 2.1 percent to 325,000 units.
Regionally, permits changed:
- Northeast: +19 percent
- West: +6.6 percent
- South: -3.4 percent
- Midwest: -5.7 percent
