Single Strength

Housing Starts
(Thousands of Units, Seasonally-Adjusted Annual Rate)
	Single- Family	Multi- family
Q1/98	1242	340
Q2	1243	326
Q3	1274	363
Q4	1352	349
Q1/99	1389	384
Q2	1318	299
Q3	1305	352
Q4	1347	304
Q1/00	1260	290
Q2	1235	285
Q3	1200	300
Q4	1225	310
Q1/01	1245	315
Q2	1270	330
Q3	1310	340
Q4	1335	350
Historical Data: U.S. Department of Commerce Forecast: Professional Builder

Preliminary numbers for the full year of 1999 show a pattern of the single-family sector doing much better than the multifamily residential construction market. Total starts are estimated to have reached 1.663 million units last year, an increase of 2.9% from the already-healthy 1998 total. The number of single-family homes started during 1999 was estimated at slightly more than 1.33 million units, a total 4.7% above the 1998 level. However, an estimated 4.1% fewer units were started in multifamily buildings during 1999 than in the previous year.

The Midwest recorded a 7.5% increase in total starts during 1999. The Northeast (+3.5%) and the South (+2.6%) saw starts increase at modest rates.