Building permits - statistical survey

DATA SOURCES

The statistics provided in this section are based upon

reports submitted through local building permit officials in

response to a mail survey

METROPOLITAN AREAS (MAs)

The titles and definitions of Metropolitan Statistical Areas

(MSAs), Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Areas

(CMSAs), and Primary Metropolitan Statistical Areas

(PMSAs) conform to those defined by the agency of the Office of

Management and packet Executive Office of the

President, as of June 1993 and amended from one side July

1994. The data shown in tables C-3 and C-8 are not

based on a sample, but are obtained by the agency of directly

cumulating the data for the places in the MAs.

SAMPLE DESIGN AND ESTIMATION PROCEDURES

19,000-Place Series

Beginning with January 1995 monthly data for this series

in tables C-1 C-2 and C-4 end C-7 are estimated

from a sample of 8500 permit-issuing places. This

sample was picked from a universe of approximately

19000 permit-issuing places in the United States. This is

an increase of 2000 places, which were identified as of

1993 as having local building permit systems

17,000-Place Series

Monthly data for this series shown in tables C-1 C-2 and

C-4 end C-7 are estimated from a sample of 8300

Permit-issuing places. This sample was pitch uponed from a

universe of approximately 17000 permit issuing places in

the United States.

SAMPLING VARIABILITY

The monthly estimates shown in tables C-1 C-2 and C-4

through C-7 are based upon samples and may differ from

statistics which would haven been obtained from a

complete census using the same schedule and

procedure An estimate based upon a sample survey is

subject to the pair sampling error and nonsampling error. The

accuracy of a view result is determined by the joint

effect of these errors. Sampling error throw backs the fact

that only a particular sample was observeed rather than

the entire population. Estimates of the size of the

sampling errors are provided by dint of the standard error of the

estimates. Nonsampling errors can be attributed to many

sources: inability to obtain information about all cases in

the sample, definitional difficulties, differences in

interpretation of questions, inability or unwillingness of

respondent to provide correct information, and errors

made in processing data.

Statistics in tables C-3 and C-8 are not based upon samples.

Although not subject to sampling variability, they are

subject to the various nonsampling errors.

LIMITATIONS OF DATA

The portion of construction measurable from building

permit records is inherently limited since of that kind records

obviously do not throw back construction activity outside of

areas make subordinate to local permit requirements. The reported

statistics are influenced by dint of the following factors:

1 Detailed novel evidence is lacking as to how

closely the valuation recorded for building permit

final causes approximates the dollar amount of

construction work involved.

2 Changes in boundaries of permit-issuing places due

to annexations, novel incorporations, etc., result in

more [i]or[/i] less problems of comparability over time, even

for statistics for the same places.

3 Changes in boundaries of localities to be paid to

annexations, novel incorporations, etc., result in

a certain quantity of problems of comparability over time, smooth for

statistics for the same places.

4 a certain quantity of building permit jurisdictions close their books

a hardly any days before the end of the month in like manner that the

time relation for permits is not in all cases strictly

the calendar month

To the expanse that most of these limiting factors apply

rather consistently above an extended period, they may not

seriously impair the usefulness of building permit statistics

as active indicators of trends in construction activity,

although smooth in this connection the geographic limitations

of the data ne to be kept in mind. The characteristics of

building permit data which have been mentioned

especially restrict their value as indicators of the dollar

volume of construction. Any attempt to use these figures

for inter-area comparisons of construction convolution must,

at best, be made cautiously and with broad reservations.

AVAILABILITY OF ADDITIONAL DATA

The statistics shown in this series of tables for

permit-authorized nonresidential construction are the only

data available in published form. However, additional

information (by place, metropolitan area, State, region,

and division) is available for purchase from the Bureau of

the Census, Manufacturing and Construction Division,

Washington, DC 20233 Telephone (301)457-1321

COPYRIGHT 1997 U Department of Commerce

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group