The housing imbroglio that sparked the year-long
economic tailspin keeps getting worse, as the U.S. Commerce Department
on Wednesday reported that housing starts nationwide slumped 6.2% in
August. That's the worst showing since January 1991. Analysts had
expected a 1.6% drop.
Housing starts declined at a
seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 895,000, with single-family starts
falling 1.9% and multi-family starts plummeted 15.1%. The Northeast
and the Midwest saw the biggest drops--14.5% and 13.6%, respectively.
The South registered a 7.4% decline, while the West broke ranks with a
10.8% gain.
In a troublesome near-term sign for the housing market, building permits sank 8.9% during August. That was also a 17-year low.
Housing Starts Tumble 6.2%
October 8, 2008
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