The US Census Bureau provides estimated statements of income and retained earnings, balance sheets, and related financial and operating ratios for all manufacturing corporations and large mining and trade corporations in the Quarterly Financial Report for Manufacturing, Mining, and Trade Corporations (Series QFR). Statistical data for the Second Quarter of 1998 are classified by industry and asset size. The annual rate of housing units authorized by building permits in September totalled 1,545,000 (seasonally adjusted) according to the Census Bureau. This is 5 (+/-1) percent below the revised August rate of 1,618,000 and 5 (+/-1) percent above the September 1997 estimate of 1,475,000.