New orders for manufactured goods in December increased $5.3 billion or 1.1 percent to $466.2 billion.

December 2011: 1.1 % change
November 2011: 2.2 % change

Total construction activity for December 2011 ($816.4 billion) was 1.5 percent above the revised November 2011 ($804.0 billion). Please see our web site for further details: http://www.census.gov/constructionspending

December 2011: 1.5 % change
November 2011: 0.4 % change

Homeownership Rate (HR)
The homeownership rate in the fourth quarter 2011 (66.0 percent) was lower than the fourth quarter 2010 rate (66.5 percent). The homeownership rates in the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West were not statistically different from their corresponding fourth quarter 2010 rates.

Rental Vacancy Rate (RVR)
The rental vacancy rate in the fourth quarter 2011 (9.4 percent) was approximately the same as the fourth quarter 2010 rate (9.4 percent).

Homeowner Vacancy Rate (HVR)
The homeowner vacancy rate of 2.3 percent in fourth quarter 2011 was lower than the fourth quarter 2010 rate (2.7 percent).

4th Qtr 2011
(HR): 66.0 percent
3rd Qtr 2011
(HR): 66.3 percent

Sales of new single-family houses in December 2011 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 307,000. This is 2.2 percent (+/- 13.2%)* below the revised November 2011 estimate of 314,000.

December 2011: -2.2 % change
November 2011: +2.3 % change

New orders for manufactured durable goods in December increased $6.2 billion or 3.0 percent to $214.5 billion.

December 2011: 3.0 % change
November 2011: 4.3 % change