This Handbook of Housing Statistics has been prepared by the National Housing Agency as a modest beginning in what is believed to be an important task-the development of labor saving tools that will speed and simplify the work of those who wish to obtain statistics about housing.

There are an increasing number of persons in both private and public life whose work requires them to seek such statistics and to know something about what they represent, how they are assembled and their reliability and limitations for various purposes. Most of these persons are not prepared for the great variety of data relevant to housing which the efforts of private and public agencies have produced during the last two decades, nor are they prepared for the considerable amount of work necessary to identify these agencies, to learn what service each performs, and to assemble the necessary pieces from the separate

sources.

It is the purpose of this book to eliminate some of this effort, first by providing within its covers the most commonly used statistical material, with technical comment about the content of the figures and the methods used in assembling them, second by pointing out the types of data which either are not available or are too scanty or imperfect for general use and third by pointing to the sources from which additional detail or continuing reports may be obtained.

Statistics are included on the volume and cost of new housing production, on the size and characteristics of the existing stock of housing, and on the financial aspects of housing, and this book is organized in three parts, each covering one of these phases of housing. For the most part the data relate to nonfarm housing; specific data for rural housing appearing only in the discussion of housing supply. In selecting the data to be included under each of these headings, the many inquiries received by the National Housing

Agency from industry, public officials and private citizens have been kept in mind as a guide to general usefulness.

Users of this handbook who do not find the data they seek in this volume will probably be able to obtain source references from which the information can be secured, or from reference to this book will be able to learn whether such statistics are available. These references are presented as source notes to the tables and in greater detail in appendix A.

Evidences of the need for further coordination among agencies, both public and private, which collect and use housing statistics will be observed throughout this book. Uniformity of terminology and definitions is a first essential step toward such coordination. Extension of coverage to include information in certain areas which have thus far remained "blank spots" in the housing statistics picture is another needed step. Additional studies will be required to determine the continuing relationship of housing to the national economy.

The preparation of this volume was under the direction of B. Douglas Stone. E. E. Ashley III and A. R. Reimers served as consultants on the selection of material to be included. Original preparation of tabular and textual material for the book was done by Chester Cooper, Dave Lowery, John West, and Eleanor Wolkind, and staff members assigned to them. Editing and preparation for publication was under the direction of Charles F. Shea. A considerable portion of the data included in this volume was obtained from the constituent agencies, i. e., Federal Housing Administration, Federal Public Housing Authority, and Federal Home Loan Bank Administration. Contributions from various other agencies are acknowledged in source notes and bibliography.