Housing starts declined 4.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 529,000 units in the final month of 2010, according to figures released by the U.S. Department of Commerce. However, the year-end data indicate that production of new homes improved 6.1 percent in 2010 over 2009. On another positive note, permit issuance for construction of new homes and apartments rose 16.7 percent in December.

Housing starts and permitting of new homes rose sharply in September to their highest levels in more than four years, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau.

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the International Code Council (ICC) announced the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approval of the 2012 ICC 700 National Green Building Standard. NAHB and ICC partnered to establish the green building standard, which was first published in 2009.

The Remodeling Market Index (RMI) reached 55 in the fourth quarter of 2012, increasing five points from the previous quarter, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). This is the highest reading since the first quarter of 2004.