Washington, D.C. -- Total housing starts increased 3.8% in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.31 million units, according to a report from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development and Commerce Department.

The October reading of 1.31 million starts is the number of housing units builders would begin if they kept this pace for the next 12 months. Within this overall number, single-family starts increased 2.0% to 936,000 units. The multifamily sector, which includes apartment buildings and condos, increased 8.6% to a 378,000 pace.