November housing starts surge, permits hit 5-month high

Washington

US housing starts in November rebounded from a seven-month low and permits surged to a five-month high, signs of strength in the housing market that could give the Federal Reserve more confidence to raise interest rates on Wednesday.

Groundbreaking jumped 10.5 per cent to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 1.17 million units, the Commerce Department said on Wednesday.

The strong report came as the US central bank is expected to raise its benchmark overnight interest rate from near zero at the end of the me…