The United States housing starts and permits rebounded last month (February 2009) from previous record lows.  This is the first time that housing starts and permits have risen in 10 months, according to data on Tuesday that gave a glimmer of hope for the recession-hit real estate market and overall U.S. economy.

While the housing starts and permits data does not demonstrate a clear change in trend for the depressed real estate housing market and overall economy, it does hint at stability that should begin to ease pressure on the real estate market and overall economy on a go forward basis.

U.S. Housing starts jumped 22.2 percent to an annualized rate of 583,000 units in February 2009 from 477,000 units in January 2009.  This was the biggest percent increase since January 1990 and the first gain since April 2008.