Housing market shows promise in December

Single-family housing permits rose 1.8 percent from November 2012 showing good signs for the housing market in December.

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This graph tracks single-family housing permits since 2001. Single-family housing permits rose 1.8 percent in December 2012.

Thursday's New Residential Construction Report showed very positive results for December with an increase for single family permits and a notable improvement for both total and single family starts. 

Single family housing permits, the most leading of indicators, rose 1.8% from November to 578K single family units (SAAR), and increased 27.3% above the level seen in December 2011 but still remained an astonishing 67.85% below the peak in September 2005. 

Single family housing starts increased a whopping 8.1% from November  to 616K units (SAAR), and rose 18.5% above the level seen in December 2011 but still remained 66.21% below the peak set in early 2006. 

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