Housing Construction Probably Advanced: U.S. Economy Preview

Builders probably began work on U.S. homes in March at the second-fastest pace in almost five years, a sign one of the bright spots of the expansion is making further progress, economists said before reports this week.

Housing starts increased to a 930,000 annualized rate from a 917,000 pace in February, according to the median estimate of 63 economists surveyed by Bloomberg before an April 16 report from the Commerce Department. Figures from the Federal Reserve the same day may show industrial production rose in March.