January Housing Starts Jump 1.5%; Permits Rise 0.7%

WASHINGTON — Housing starts rose 1.5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 699,000 in January from the upwardly revised estimate of 689,000 for December, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

Building permits edged up 0.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 676,000.

Economists expected 675,000 starts and 680,000 permits.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM BOND BUYER