WASHINGTON — Housing starts fell 0.3% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 628,000 in October from the revised 630,000 for September, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.
Building permits surged 10.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 653,000 last month from the unrevised September rate of 589,000.
Economists expected 610,000 starts and 600,000 permits.