U.S. Housing Starts Flat In June

Construction of new homes in the U.S. was flat in June from the month before at 2.004 million, the government said July 19. The June figures, while weaker than the 2.050 million expected by economists, suggest the U.S. housing market continues to sizzle.

The Commerce Department revised down the May figure to 2.004 million from the 2.009 million given initially.

Building permits for new housing -- a sign of future activity -- increased by 2.4% to 2.111 million in June.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2005