Definition:
A measure of the number of residential units on which construction is begun each month.
Importance:
It's used to predict the changes of gross domestic product. While residential investment represents just four percent of the level of GDP, due to its volatility it frequently represents a much higher portion of changes in GDP over relatively short periods of time.
Source:
The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce.
Availability:
Around the 16th of the month at
Frequency:
Monthly.
Revisions:
The data are revised monthly for the prior two months to incorporate more complete information. New seasonal adjustment factors are introduced in February with the release of the January data. This revision affects at least three years of data, but its significance is generally small.
Raw Data:
http://www.census.gov/ftp/pub/indicator/www/housing.html
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