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US housing construction increases 3.2% in November
Construction of new homes rose again in November while applications for building permits rose to the highest level in 12 years, both encouraging signs of a rebound in the housing market.
Top court revives battle over Sandy Spring’s Farm Road
A Montgomery County trial judge prematurely dismissed the residents’ lawsuit, first filed in 2008, in which they seek to enforce the easement over “Farm Road” against the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
Bill aims to speed Towson development process
The legislation, sponsored by Councilman David Marks, would give the director of permits the ability to exempt downtown buildings from parking and signage regulations.
Measure of future economic activity up 0.6 percent
WASHINGTON — A measure of U.S. economic activity designed to give signals about the future posted a solid gain in September, rebounding after a dip in August. But the index is still signaling weak growth. The Conference Board says its index of leading indicators rose 0.6 percent in September after falling 0.4 percent in August […]
Filings for unemployment aid at a 5-week high
WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose last week to a five-week high, evidence that the job market remains sluggish. The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications for unemployment aid rose 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 383,000. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, increased for the first time in a […]
Housing starts rose to 717,000 in April
WASHINGTON — U.S. builders started work on more homes and apartments last month and requested more permits to build single-family homes. The increases suggest the battered housing market is healing. The Commerce Department said Wednesday that builders broke ground in April at a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 717,000 homes. That’s a 2.6 percent increase […]
Builders start fewer homes but permits jump
WASHINGTON — U.S. builders are betting that the housing market is finally on the path back to health. They requested 5 percent more permits in February to build single-family homes and apartments in the coming months. That increased the annual rate to a seasonally adjusted 717,000 permits, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. While that’s still […]
Leading indicators rise 0.9 percent in October
WASHINGTON — A gauge of future economic activity rose at solid pace in October, offering hope that the economy may see stronger growth in coming months. The Conference Board reported Friday that its index of leading economic indicators rose 0.9 percent last month, significantly faster than the revised 0.1 percent rise in September and the […]
Home building jumps 15 percent in September
WASHINGTON — Homes were built in September at the fastest pace in 17 months, a hopeful sign for the economy. Most of the gain was driven by a surge in volatile apartment construction. That should help create jobs and boost economic growth, but it doesn’t signal a comeback for the depressed housing market. Single-family home […]
August home starts hit a three-month low
WASHINGTON — Builders broke ground on fewer homes in August, evidence that the housing market remains depressed. The Commerce Department said Tuesday that builders began work on a seasonally adjusted 571,000 homes last month, a 5 percent decline from July and a three-month low. That’s less than half the 1.2 million that economists say is […]
Annapolis landmark Johnson’s Building hosts property owners’ angst
ANNAPOLIS — The Johnson’s Building, a 158-year-old landmark pinning State Circle to Maryland Avenue, has sat vacant for nearly three years now, but the storefront is still giving window-shoppers an eyeful. Almost every inch of the glass is papered in propaganda, blasting city government on its strict building code for renovations and warning other property […]
Home starts rises slightly, building permits fall
WASHINGTON — Home construction rose slightly last month on the strength of single-family homes, but the market was still too weak to propel growth in the battered industry. The Commerce Department says construction of new homes and apartments rose 0.3 percent in September from a month earlier to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 610,000. […]
