Talking Points …

  • Building permits rose 7.4 percent in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,343,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development).
  • The June rate was 30 percent above the June 2014 estimate of 1,033,000.
  • Permits for single-family homes increased 0.9 percent to a rate of 687,000 compared with the revised May figure of 681,000. Privately owned housing starts rose 9.8 percent in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,174,000.