Housing starts in June were 7.5 percent higher than they were the same time a year ago, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

However, the seasonally adjusted rate of 893,000 units was 9.3 percent lower than the revised May estimate of 985,000. Single-family housing starts were 575,000 or 9 percent lower than the revised May figure of 632,000 units.

Privately owned housing completions in June were at a seasonally adjusted rate of 789,000. This is 12 percent below the revised May estimate of 897,000, but is 3.4 percent above the June 2013 rate of 763,000.

Single-family housing completions in June were at a rate of 586,000 units or 6.5 percent below the revised May rate of 627,000 units. The June rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 198,000.