FORTUNE — Homebuilders stepped up home construction for a third-straight month in April, suggesting the home-building industry sees growth ahead after a difficult winter.
U.S. housing starts rose 13.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 1.07 million last month, according to a Commerce Department report Friday. The primary driver of the increase was a big jump in multi-family homes. Single-family home construction rose just 0.8%.
Building permits issued were also up, rising 8% to a pace of 1.08 million.
