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    Steel Markets

    Housing Starts Increase in May, But Permits Decline

    Written by Sandy Williams


    Housing starts rose 5.0 percent in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,350,000, the highest level since July 2007, according to data from the Commerce Department. Starts were 20.3 percent above the rate in May 2017.

    Single-family housing starts rose 3.9 percent from April and multi-family housing of five units or more jumped 11.3 percent. Starts jumped 62.2 percent in the Midwest, but declined across the other regions.

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