Privately‐owned housing units authorized by building permits in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,263,000.  This is 0.6 percent below the revised September rate of 1,270,000 and is 6.0 percent below the October 2017 rate of 1,343,000. Single‐family authorizations in October were at a rate of 849,000; this is 0.6 percent below the revised September figure of 854,000.  Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 376,000 in October.

Privately‐owned housing starts in October were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,228,000.  This is 1.5 percent above the revised September estimate of 1,210,000, but is 2.9 percent below the October 2017 rate of 1,265,000.  Single‐family housing starts in October were at a rate of 865,000; this is 1.8 percent below the revised September figure of 881,000. The October rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 343,000.