The total number of residential permits issued nationwide during the first five months of this year was 2.2% less than in January-May of 1999.

The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) fell 4.1% in June from its record-high set the month before.

April 2000 total housing starts were at a seasonally-adjusted annualized level of 1.663 million units, after averaging almost 1.8 million units (annualized) during the December 1999-February 2000 period.

The Smith family of Carlsbad, Calif., exists only on paper as a researcher''s construct of the average home buyer. They are the typical dual-income, two-child household

Among 1999’s top 10 areas in terms of sheer volume of new residential construction, only two - Atlanta and Chicago - have been able to build upon their totals through the first three months of this year.

Single-family building permits in 1999 reached an all-time record of 1,231,811 as GDP hit 6.9% in fourth quarter.

The top three states in terms of new residential permit volume - Florida, California, and Texas - accounted for 27.5% of all permits issued nationwide throughout the first three months of this year.

April 2000 total housing starts were at a seasonally adjusted annualized level of 1.663 million units, after averaging almost 1.8 million units (annualized during the December 1999 -February 2000 period.

The Conference Board’s composite Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) fell for the third consecutive month during April, and is now at a level 5.4% lower than its record-high set during the first month of the new year.