Nov 18 -- The U.S. Census Bureau is requesting OMB approve an extension of the currently approved collection for the Survey of Housing Starts, Sales, and Completions, otherwise known as the Survey of Construction (SOC). Census invites SOC data users to submit comments to OMB by December 18, 2020.
The Census Bureau uses the information collected in the SOC to publish estimates of the number of new residential housing units started, under construction, completed, and the number of new houses sold and for sale. The Census Bureau also publishes many financial and physical characteristics of new housing units.
Data for two principal economic indicators are produced from the SOC: New Residential Construction (housing starts and housing completions) and New Residential Sales. In addition, a number of other statistical series are produced, including extensive information on the physical characteristics of new residential buildings, and indexes measuring rates of inflation in the price of new buildings. These statistics are based on a sample of residential buildings in permit-issuing places and a road canvass in a sample of land areas not covered by building permit systems.
Census New Residential Construction webpage:
https://www.census.gov/construction/nrc/index.html
SOC package submitted to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202011-0607-005 Click on IC List for survey instruments, View Supporting Statement for plans, methods, timeline.
FR notice inviting comment:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/11/18/2020-25407/agency-information-collection-activities-submission-to-the-office-of-management-and-budget-omb-for
Point of contact: William M. Abriatis, Assistant Division Chief for Construction Indicator Programs (301) 763-3686 william.m.abriatis@census.gov
For AEA members wishing to provide comments, "A Primer on How to Respond to Calls for Comment on Federal Data Collections" is available at
https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=5806
