Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,168,000, according to The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

This is 4.9 percent below the revised April rate of 1,228,000 and is 0.8 percent below the May 2016 rate of 1,178,000. Single-family authorizations in May were at a rate of 779,000, 1.9 percent below the revised April figure of 794,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 358,000 in May.

Privately-owned housing starts in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,092,000. This is 5.5 percent below the revised April estimate of 1,156,000 and is 2.4 percent below the May 2016 rate of 1,119,000. Single-family housing starts in May were at a rate of 794,000, 3.9 percent below the revised April figure of 826,000. The May rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 284,000.

Privately-owned housing completions in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,164,000. This is 5.6 percent above the revised April estimate of 1,102,000 and is 14.6 percent above the May 2016 rate of 1,016,000. Single-family housing completions in May were at a rate of 817,000; this is above the revised April rate of 779,000.The May rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 335,000.