US: Building permits in January increased by 7.4% to 1,396,000

"Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,396,000. This is 7.4 percent above the revised December rate of 1,300,000 and is 7.4 percent above the January 2017 rate of 1,300,000," the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development jointly announced on Friday.

Housing Starts:

Privately-owned housing starts in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,326,000. This is 9.7 percent  above the revised December estimate of 1,209,000 and is 7.3 percent above the January 2017 rate of 1,236,000.