The South also did best in permits, with a 30.4 percent jump.

Today's report also showed a 7 percent December gain in permits for future construction, to an annual pace of 1.2 million.

All but 9,000 of the 88,000 total rise in permits, to a 1,442,000 annual rate, was for buildings with two or more units.

This value is used, along with other factors, to determine toxicity limits in permits.

The biggest effect was from a drop in permits to construct new buildings.

And analysts noted that the report showed a decline in permits issued for future construction, which suggested a possible slowdown ahead.

If that is the case we have to ask if there is the political will to sustain a free market in permits.

The decline in permits was less than 1 percent, entirely in apartment houses.

But along with the surge in permits come some problems.

"And yet Manhattan is fourth out of the five boroughs in permits."