November Housing Starts Up 5.3 Percent

New U.S. housing permits rose in November 5.3 percent to 2.123 million, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

Last month’s increase was 17.5 percent over the year-earlier level and slightly above expectations.

New housing permits last month also rose. Those permits reached 2.155 million in November from 2.103 million in October, a 2.5-percent increase over October’s level and a 3-percent rise over the year-earlier level.