In Sign of Improving U.S. Housing Sector, Building Permits Hit 5-Year High

New data from the Commerce Department reveals that more than 1 million residential building permits were issued last month. Though construction activity has reached a 5-year high, economists caution that other data indicates rates are slowing.

1 minute read

November 27, 2013, 2:00 PM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


"[Residential] Building permits in October were up 6.2% from the month before, reaching 1,034,000, government figures show. That's up 13.9% from October of last year." According to Ricardo Lopes, "the building permits data are a good barometer of the overall state of residential construction, which has been strong over the past year." 

The Commerce Department's data also indicates the growing strength of the multi-family market. "Single-family home permits slowed to 620,000, the report said. Meanwhile, multi-family housing permits jumped 15.3% in October from the month before, reaching 414,000."  



Tuesday, November 26, 2013 in Los Angeles Times

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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