Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on New Residential Construction in June 2011

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–July 19, 2011.  The Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau today released data on new residential construction for June 2011. Housing starts surged 14.6 percent in June, easily surpassing private-sector expectations of a 2.7-percent increase. Permits for new housing units also beat expectations, increasing 2.5 percent in June following an 8.2-percent jump in May. Private-sector analysts had expected a 2.3-percent drop in permits from May to June.