Analysts were for the most part surprised to learn that for September, the annualized rate for housing starts rose to 610,000. This surpassed the August rate of 608,000 and was the highest since April. The Commerce Department also noted however, that the number of building permits for multifamily dwellings fell to the lowest level in more than a year.
“At least we’re making some progress here,” said John Herrmann, senior fixed income strategist at State Street Global Markets in Boston, who forecast starts at 605,000. “It’s a slow, steady-as-she-goes improvement in builder activity.”
Source: Bloomberg