An estimated 780,000 housing units were started in 2012, according to a joint report released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This marks a 28.1 percent increase over the 2011 figure of 608,800. Building permits were up 30.3 percent for 2012 and housing completions were up 11.4 percent for the year. In December, the seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts was up 12.1 percent over the November estimate. The annual figures for building permits and housing completions both rose modestly in December by 0.3 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively.

Link: News Release