U.S. housing starts declined to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 557,000 in December vs. 580,000 in November, a 4% drop, according to estimates by the Commerce Dept. reported in the latest Economic Report by MarketWatch. Starts of single-family homes in 2009 were the lowest on record dating to 1959, MarketWatch said. However, the number of building permits rose 10.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 653,000, the highest number in 14 months, MarketWatch reported. Read more.