Builders Break Ground, Building Permits are Up Indicator of the Future Construction-Seattle Homes-Real Estate Seattle Search-NWMLS-Http;/www.ThachRealEstateGroup.com

WASHINGTON — Builders broke ground on more new homes last month, giving the weak U.S. housing market a slight boost at the start of the spring buying season.

Home construction rose 7.2 percent in March from February to a seasonally adjusted 549,000 units, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. Building permits, an indicator of future construction, rose 11.2 percent after hitting a five-decade low in February.