March 2021 marked the third consecutive month of record-setting numbers as building permits rose 5.7% to $10.9 billion, reflecting a booming residential sector. Constant dollar estimates are available, for the first time, for the building-permit series dating back to 2011. On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), building permits increased by 4.0% to $8.1 billion, a number only surpassed by the April 2019 value of $8.2 billion. The residential sector climbed 15.9%, clearing the $8.0 billion mark for the first time in March. Multi-family dwellings jumped 24.5% compared with February to an unprecedented $4.3 billion. ... (full story)