U.S. housing rises from last year

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that privately-owned housing starts in December were at a seasonally adjusted rate of 1,149,000. This is 2.5% below the revised November estimate of 1,179,000, but is 6.4% above the December 2014 rate of 1,080,000. Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in December were at 1,232,000. This is 3.9% below the revised November rate of 1,282,000, but is 14.4% above the December 2014 estimate of 1,077,000.