The number of new residential projects, whose construction was started in the country in March, rose to its highest since November 2008 level. The number of permits issued reached a 17-month high. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, in March, the number of new projects under construction increased by 1,6% relative to February. Compared with March 2009 this had risen to 20,2%, reports MSNBC. In segments of detached houses and apartment buildings there was a real "mess". If the February number of newly built single-family homes rose by 5,7% (adjusted for seasonal factors), then in March, this figure dropped to 0,7%. The number of new apartment buildings under construction in February dropped by 21.6%, and in March, on the contrary, increased by 18,8%. The number of issued building permits (on this indicator can be judged on the future market activity) in March rose by 7,5%. With regard to March 2009 the number of permits issued increased by 34,1%. This is the biggest annual jump in this index since February 1992.
| 
