Investing.com - U.S. homebuilding slid in February, according to data released on Friday.
Housing starts decreased 7.0% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.236 million units last month, the Commerce Department said.
Economists had forecast housing starts rising to a pace of 1.290 million units last month.
Building permits fell 5.7% to a rate of 1.298 million units in February.
Economists had forecast building permits increasing to a pace of 1.320 million units last month.