U.S. starts, permits up in October

U.S. housing starts increased by 1.9 percent in October to 1.37 million units, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. September’s figure was revised down to a 3.1 percent rise, from the preliminary estimate of +7 percent. Building permits edged up 1.1 percent to 1.49 million units following a 4.5 percent drop in September. Analysts had expected them to fall to 1.45 million units.