Housing Starts Up, But Builders Fret

WASHINGTON Housing construction rebounded in March from a winterslump, but builders fear sales may be threatened by rising interestrates.

David F. Seiders, an economist with the National Association ofHome Builders, said a late March-early April survey of 455 membersfound concern over the increased cost of mortgages.

"Obviously, builders are aware of how important rates are totheir businesses," he said.

After spiking to a 1.61 million annual rate in December, housingstarts plunged 21.2 percent in January, to 1.27 million, because ofthe harsh winter. Continued inclement weather held the rebound inFebruary to just a 3.4 percent gain, to 1.31 …