US housing starts sank 5.3 percent in September

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home construction fell 5.3 percent in September, a sign that rising mortgage rates may be weighing on the market.

The Commerce Department says that housing starts slipped last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.2 million, down from 1.27 million in August. So far this year, starts have increased 6.4 percent. But the pace of homebuilding has downshifted since May.

Homebuyers are facing new cost pressures that could be dampening demand.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says that the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage jumped to 4.9 percent last week, the highest level since 2011. The combination of higher borrowing costs and rising home values has made home ownership less affordable.

Permits, an indicator of future activity, fell 0.6 percent to an annual rate of 1.24 million.

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