The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for December 2020: {tables} Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,709,000. This is 4.5 percent (±1.4 percent) above the revised November rate of 1,635,000 and is 17.3 percent (±1.8 percent) above the December 2019 rate of 1,457,000. Single-family authorizations in December were at a rate of 1,226,000; this is 7.8 percent (±0.9 percent) above the revised November figure of 1,137,000. ... (full story)