US single-family housing starts rebound in January, building permits decline

In January, the United States saw a rebound in single‑family housing starts, while the number of building permits issued for new single‑family residences fell, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. This shift reflects ongoing changes in the housing market, driven in part by mortgage‑rate movements and evolving demand for homes. Analysts suggest that the uptick in starts may indicate a strengthening in construction activity, even as permit issuance lags behind, possibly due to tightened credit conditions or shifting builder expectations. The Census Bureau reported that the number of new single‑family homes that began construction rose compared with the previous month, whereas permit figures for the same type of homes dipped. This divergence between starts and permits is often watched by economists and industry stakeholders as a barometer of the health of the residential construction sector and overall economic climate.