Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,545,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is virtually unchanged from the revised September rate of 1,545,000 but is 2.8% above the October 2019 rate of 1,503,000.

Single-family authorizations in October were at a rate of 1,120,000; this is 0.6% above the revised September figure of 1,113,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 365,000 in October.

Privately owned housing starts in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,530,000. This is 4.9% above the revised September estimate of 1,459,000 and is 14.2% above the October 2019 rate of 1,340,000. Single-family housing starts in October were at a rate of 1,179,000; this is 6.4% above the revised September figure of 1,108,000. The October rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 334,000.

Privately-owned housing completions in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,343,000. This is 4.5% below the revised September estimate of 1,406,000 but is 5.4% above the October 2019 rate of 1,274,000. Single-family housing completions in October were at a rate of 883,000; this is 3.4% below the revised September rate of 914,000. The October rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 444,000.