Building Permit Activity

Following is a comparison of single-family building permit activity in the top 25 metropolitan markets for the first six months of 1991 and 1990. The major reasons for the lower numbers were the lingering recession, ongoing credit crunch, sluggish employment outlook and consumer concern over economic conditions, said Mark Tipton, president of the National Assn. of Home Builders.

City 1991 1990 % Change 1 Atlanta 10,830 11,420 -5.2 2 Washington, D.C., area 7,390 9,810 -24.7 3 Riverside-San Bernardino 6,790 15,460 -56.1 4 Phoenix 6,600 6,020 9.6 5 Las Vegas 5,990 5,920 1.2 6 Minneapolis-St. Paul 5,980 6,030 -0.8 7 Dallas 5,560 5,370 3.5 8 Houston 5,080 5,000 1.6 9 Detroit 5,000 6,280 -20.4 10 Philadelphia area 4,680 5,800 -19.3 11 Orlando, Fla. 4,660 6,580 -29.2 12 Baltimore area 4,510 5,430 -16.9 13 Chicago 4,300 6,110 -29.6 14 San Diego 3,970 4,450 -10.8 15 Los Angeles-Long Beach 3,800 5,860 -35.2 16 Tampa-St. Petersburg 3,770 4,300 -12.3 17 Sacramento 3,730 8,520 -56.2 18 Seattle 3,710 6,440 -42.4 19 St. Louis, Mo. 3,610 4,160 -13.2 20 Charlotte-Gastonia, N.C. 3,510 4,410 -20.4 21 Kansas City, Mo. 3,250 3,340 -2.7 22 Jacksonville, Fla. 3,140 3,250 -3.4 23 Indianapolis 3,020 3,390 -10.9 24 Denver 2,900 2,190 32.4 25 Columbus, Ohio 2,800 3,310 -15.4

SOURCE: National Assn. of Home Builders