Plenty of anecdotal evidence indicates Johnson County’s housing market is shifting into a higher gear, and new data hammers home the point.

Home sales, average sales prices, and permits for single family residences all were in positive territory in October compared with a year earlier, according to the County Economic Research Institute. The latest report from CERI reflects the trends in the county’s housing market that started in early 2012.

According to the report:

• New and existing home sales in October reached 695, up 30 percent from October 2011. Year-to-date, home sales are up 23 percent.

• Single family building permits rose to 120 for October, up 48 percent from the same month a year ago. Through 10 months this year, construction permits are up 43 percent.

• The average price of new and existing homes sold in the county reached $249,000 in October, up 1.1 percent. The average sale price through 10 months was $299,300, slightly lower than the same time last year.

While the trends remain positive, the county’s housing market is still far from matching the robust stretch before the recession.

CERI also noted in its latest monthly survey that the county’s unemployment rate slid to 4.8 percent, from 5.7 percent in October 2011.

For the month of October, about 285,000 residents in the county were employed, down a fraction from 12 months earlier.

To reach Steve Rosen, call 816-234-4879 or send email to srosen@kcstar.com.