Investing.com - U.S. housing starts fell more than expected in March and permits for future home construction hit a one-year low. Groundbreaking fell 8.8% to an annual pace of 1.09 million units, the lowest level since October. Economists had forecast housing starts slipping to a 1.17 million-unit pace. Building permits dropped 7.7% to a 1.09 million-unit rate, the lowest level in a year. The data pointed to a slowdown in the housing market, in line with signs of slowing growth in the first quarter.