Meanwhile social housing might start to be used for those in actual need.

Housing starts reached the two million annual level five times during the 1970's, the last time being 1978.

Housing starts in the West were down 2.5 percent, to an annual rate of 426,000 units.

Housing starts for 1990 fell to 1.19 million, the lowest level since 1982 and down 13.3 percent from 1989.

Housing starts rose for the second consecutive month in July.

Housing starts and new home sales rose in February, but they remain well below last year's levels.

Housing starts climbed by 6.2 percent, quite a nice jump.

The increases pushed national housing starts 3 percent above the January level, to an annual rate of 1.49 million.

Housing starts increased by 5.7 percent last month, to an annual rate of 1.72 million units, the highest level since March 1987.

Housing starts rose 8.9 percent in February, after two straight months of declines.