Privately owned housing starts rose 6.8 percent in May to 914,000, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. This is 28.6 percent above May 2012. Single-family starts were up 0.3 percent from April to 599,000.
"Unusually wet weather across much of the country likely dampened the pace of single-family production in May," said National Association of Home Builders Chief Economist David Crowe in a statement. "Nevertheless, the strength in permit issuance for single-family units-and stockpiling of permits for future use-provides further evidence that housing continues on a slow and steady path to recovery."
Privately owned housing units authorized by permits fell to 974,000, down 3.1 percent from April's 1,005,000, but single-family permits increased 1.3 percent to 622,000.
Total housing completions fell 0.9 percent to 690,000 in May. Single-family completions were up 4.2 percent to 546,000.
