U.S. builders start fewer homes but permits jump

U.S. builders  have requested the most building permits in any month since October 2008.

Building permits, a gauge of future construction, jumped 5.1 percent last month to 717,000. Two-thirds are for single-family homes, which are critical to a housing recovery.  It can take up to 12 months for a builder to obtain a permit and construct a single-family home. Read more here on real estate and building permits