The Economics and Statistics Division maintains archives of previous publications for accountability purposes, but makes no updates to keep these documents current with the latest data revisions from Statistics Canada. As a result, information in older documents may not be accurate. Please exercise caution when referring to older documents. For the latest information and historical data, please contact the individual listed to the right.
<--- Return to Archive
For additional information relating to this article, please contact:
April 18, 2017US HOUSING STARTS AND BUILDING PERMITS, MARCH 2017 
US residential construction permits, a leading indicator of new construction, increased by 3.6 per cent in March 2017 compared to the revised February 2017 estimate, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,260,000 units. This is 17.0 per cent above the March 2016 estimate of 1,077,000. Compared to a year ago, permits for single unit structures were up 13.5 per cent, 2-4 units structures were up 5.9 per cent, and 5+ units structures were up 26.1 per cent.
Through the first three months of the year, unadjusted building permits were up 10.4 per cent in 2017 compared to the first three months of 2016, with increased starts in single unit, two-to-four units, and five or more unit structures.
US housing starts in March 2017 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,215,000 units. This is 6.8 per cent below the revised February 2017 estimate of 1,303,000 and 9.2 per cent above the March 2016 estimate.
Through the first three months of the year, unadjusted housing starts were up 8.1 per cent in 2017 over 2016, with growth in structures with one unit and five or more units partially offset by a decline in structures with two to four units.
US housing starts are an important indicator for Nova Scotia's wood exports. Though not a perfect predictor, US housing starts and the value of Nova Scotia's wood exports follow similar directions over the long-term.
Source: US Census Bureau New Residential Construction
<--- Return to Archive
