WASHINGTON — Housing starts in the U.S. were up a healthy 4.4% in December from November at a seasonally adjusted rate, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Year over year, starts climbed 5.3%. Single-family starts were up 7.2% month-over-month. For the year, housing starts were up 8.8% over 2013.
Building intentions for December, as measured by the number of building permits issued, were up 1.9%, with single-family intentions up 4.5% over November. The number of building permits issued in 2014 was up 4.2% over the previous year.
