Housing Starts in U.S. Rose in January, Permits Fell

"Work began on 591,000 houses at an annual rate last month, up 2.8 percent from December, figures from the Commerce Department showed today in Washington. Starts were projected to increase to a 580,000 pace, according to the median estimate of 77 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. Permits, a sign of future construction, fell less than anticipated after rising in December to the highest level since October 2008."