US: building permits fell 1.8%, housing starts decline 3.7% in April

The US Census Bureau and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for April 2018: 

   •  Building Permits 

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,352,000. This is 1.8 percent below the revised March rate of 1,377,000, but is 7.7 percent above the April 2017 rate of 1,255,000. 

   •  Housing Starts 

Privately-owned housing starts in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,287,000. This is 3.7 percent below the revised March estimate of 1,336,000, but is 10.5 percent above the April 2017 rate of 1,165,000.