Investing.com - The number of housing starts in the U.S. rose to the highest level in four years in September, while building permits issued surged to the highest level since July 2008, easing concerns over the U.S. housing sector, official data showed Wednesday.
In a report, the U.S. Census Bureau that U.S. housing starts rose by 15% in September to a seasonally adjusted 0.872 million, blowing past expectations for a 2.7% increase to 0.770 million.
Housing starts for August were revised up to 0.758 million units from a previously reported 0.750 million units.
The report also showed that the number of building permits issued in September rose 11.6% to a seasonally adjusted 0.894 million, compared to expectations for a 1.1% gain to 0.810 million.
Building permits issued in August totaled 0.801 million units.
Following the release of the data, the U.S. dollar remained lower against the euro, with EUR/USD rising 0.56% to trade at 1.3127.
Meanwhile, U.S. stock index futures remained mixed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a gain of 0.1% at the open, S&P 500 futures indicated a rise of 0.3%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures signaled a decline of 0.1%.
In a report, the U.S. Census Bureau that U.S. housing starts rose by 15% in September to a seasonally adjusted 0.872 million, blowing past expectations for a 2.7% increase to 0.770 million.
Housing starts for August were revised up to 0.758 million units from a previously reported 0.750 million units.
The report also showed that the number of building permits issued in September rose 11.6% to a seasonally adjusted 0.894 million, compared to expectations for a 1.1% gain to 0.810 million.
Building permits issued in August totaled 0.801 million units.
Following the release of the data, the U.S. dollar remained lower against the euro, with EUR/USD rising 0.56% to trade at 1.3127.
Meanwhile, U.S. stock index futures remained mixed. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures pointed to a gain of 0.1% at the open, S&P 500 futures indicated a rise of 0.3%, while the Nasdaq 100 futures signaled a decline of 0.1%.