The U.S. Department of Commerce reported that national housing starts in February of 1.5 million were 9 percent above the department’s January estimate of 1.4 million.
However, the February increase is still 28.5 percent below the February 2006 rate of 2.1 million, according to the department.
Single-family housing starts in February were at a rate of 1.2 million, 10.3 percent above January, which posted a rate of 1.1 million.
Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in February were at a rate of 1.53 million, 2.5 percent below the January rate of 1.57 million, and 28.6 percent below the February 2006 estimate.
