Job figures are stronger than housing data

The New York Times reports that claims for unemployment for August dropped more than expected, but so did the number of housing starts.

Data from the Labor Department shows claims for state unemployment benefits declined by 36,000 to a seasonally adjusted 280,000. In a separate report, data from the Commerce Department said housing starts fell 14.4 percent. But with the labor market gaining traction, economists expect housing activity to accelerate next year.