U.S. Housing Starts Rose to Fastest Pace Since 2006 in December

U.S. home builders started construction on homes at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 1.67 million in December, representing a 5.8% increase from the previous month's figure, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday. Permitting for new homes occurred at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 1.71 million, up 4.5% from November. Both figures came in ahead of analysts' expectations, reflecting growth in the single-family sector.