Family
U.S. single-family homebuilding increased solidly in December, but further gains were seen limited by rising mortgage rates and a glut of new homes on the market. Single-family housing starts, which account for the bulk of homebuilding, rose 3.3% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.050 million units last month, the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau said on Friday. Higher mortgage rates have weighed on homebuilding, which had been benefiting from a dearth of previously owned houses for sale.