WASHINGTON — Housing starts rose mildly during August as apartment construction rebounded and offset a decline in single-family homes for the third increase in groundbreakings in four months.
Separately, the number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly declined, according to a Labor Department report Thursday. Meanwhile, total claims lasting more than one week increased.
Housing starts climbed a less-than-expected 1.5% to a seasonally adjusted 598,000 annual rate compared to the prior month, the Commerce Department said Thursday. Building permits also increased last month.
Single-family starts in August compared to the prior month retreated 3.0% to 479,000, a modest pullback after five straight increases that accumulated with the steady rise in new-home sales.
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