CNNMoney says building permits spiked 34 percent from Feb. 2012-Feb. 2013, and rose five percent from Jan. 2013, the top month for permits since June 2008, according to Census Bureau figures. While the permits amounted to an annual rate of 946,000, housing starts hit an annual pace of 917,000 in Feb., 28 percent better than last Feb. but only slightly above the Jan. 2013 level. As MHProNews reported here earlier, while the National Association of Home Builders survey showed builder confidence slipping from last month, economists predict the housing recovery will give a large boost to the overall economy. In the last five months, 150,000 construction jobs have been added to the employment rolls.

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