Homebuilding Probably Climbed With Sales: U.S. Economy Preview

New home construction and sales of previously owned houses probably climbed in August, a sign residential real estate is one of the economy’s few bright spots, economists said before reports this week.

Housing starts increased to a 765,000 annual rate, the fastest in almost four years, from a 746,000 pace in July, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg survey. Existing-home purchases advanced to a three-month high, while manufacturing contracted in two regions in September, other reports may show.