Single Strength

(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.