Housing starts and building permits were down in May, according to new statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

According to the joint announcement, new residential construction statistics for May 2022, include:

Building permits
Privately‐owned housing units authorized by building permits in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,695,000.  This is 7.0 percent below the revised April rate of 1,823,000 but is 0.2 percent above the May 2021 rate of 1,691,000.  

Single‐family authorizations in May were at a rate of 1,048,000; this is 5.5 percent below the revised April figure of 1,109,000.  Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 592,000 in May.

Housing starts
Privately‐owned housing starts in May at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,549,000.  This is 14.4 percent (±8.9 percent) below the revised April estimate of 1,810,000 and is 3.5 percent (±10.7 percent)* below the May 2021 rate of 1,605,000.  

Single‐family housing starts in May were at a rate of 1,051,000; this is 9.2 percent (±11.0 percent)* below the revised April figure of 1,157,000. The May rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 469,000.  

Housing completions
Privately‐owned housing completions in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,465,000.  This is 9.1 percent (±22.6 percent)* above the revised April estimate of 1,343,000 and is 9.3 percent (±19.0 percent)* above the May 2021 rate of 1,340,000.  

Single‐family housing completions in May were at a rate of 1,043,000; this is 2.8 percent (±13.6 percent) above the revised April rate of 1,015,000. The May rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 417,000.

For the full May report, click here.