The July decline was the largest since a 7.2 percent drop in April 1984.

February's decline was the biggest since a 9 percent drop in January 1988.

But building permits fell 5.4 percent last month, the biggest decline since a 9 percent drop in January.

The decline was the steepest since a 12.7 percent drop in February.

January's 3 percent decline in total orders was the biggest since a 7.4 percent drop last July.

It was the biggest quarterly improvement since a 20.1 percent drop in the final quarter of last year.

It was the first decline since a 3.3 percent drop in March.

Last month's decline was the largest since a 5.3 percent drop in December.

The October decline was the largest since a 6.7 percent drop in January, 1987.

It was the first decline since a 1.2 percent drop last April.