Housing starts, permits rise in U.S.

WASHINGTON ― Housing starts in the U.S. had a larger increase than expected in April. Groundbreaking rose by 6.6% to a rate of 1.17 million units, seasonally adjusted. A Reuters poll found a consensus of 1.13 million units among economists. Starts for single-family dwellings rose 3.3% to a rate of 778,000. Building permits increased by 3.6% to a rate of 1.12 million units.