• Single-family housing starts, measured as an annual rate, fell 6.5% from June but were 21.5% higher than in July 2011. The rate was 502,000 last month.
• Building permits for single-family homes and multifamily were both up in month-to-month comparisons – 4.5% for single-family and 11.2% for multifamily over June.
• The rate for all types of residential building permits was the highest since August 2008.

From the article:

Housing starts in July soared above year ago levels with 746,000 units under construction, up 21.5% from 614,000 starts in July 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau said. Still, starts fell 1.1% from 754,000 units in June. ...