WASHINGTON — Housing starts were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.82 million units in August, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported. This marked a 3.8 percent decrease from July's upwardly revised number, which was the highest in 17 years. Meanwhile, issuance of building permits increased 4.8 percent to its highest level this year, a 1.89 million-unit rate.
Referring to August starts as down marginally, the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB’s) president Kent Conine stated, "This is unquestionably a strong report.