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January 19, 2006 8:45 AM, EST

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.S. new housing starts fell 8.9% in December from November, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

The decline to a 1.933 million unit annual rate, from November’s revised 2.121 million rate, was below the 2.035 million economists had forecast, Bloomberg reported.

uilding permits, an indicator of future construction, fell 4.4% to 2.068 million units at an annual rate.

ncreased construction can mean more business for flatbed trucking companies that haul building materials. In home construction, dry van freight can see demand increases in for delivery of household appliances and furniture.

Housing starts fell in three of four regions, rising only in the South, Commerce said.