By Rex Nutting
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - U.S. housing starts fell about 5.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 575,000 in February as several massive snow storms hit the East and South, according to data released Tuesday by the Commerce Department. New construction was down in the Northeast and South, but up in the Midwest and West. Starts of single-family homes fell 0.6% to a 499,000 pace, while starts of large condos and apartment building plunged 43%. In the past year, starts of single-family homes are up 39%, while starts of multifamily units are down 41%. Building permits - which aren't as affected by weather as starts are - dropped 1.6% to 612,000 in February. Permits for single-family homes fell 0.2% to a 503,000 rate.
