Privately-owned housing starts in September rose 23.4 percent for the Northeast to 137,000, according to data released by the U.S. Commerce Department. August’s total was 111,000. Nationally, housing starts were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,206,000, a 6.5-percent increase from the revised August total of 1,132,000.

Building permits for the Northeast also rose in September, increasing 8.3 percent to 118,000. Nationally, building permits fell 5 percent to 1,103,000. To read the entire U.S. Commerce Department press release, click here.