French permits issued for new housing construction rose 14.3 pct in the second quarter from a year earlier, while housing starts increased 9.3 pct, the Labour Ministry said. There were 141,144 new permits issued and 109,853 construction start-ups. Multi-unit dwellings dominated the growth, with permits up 23 pct against 5.3 pct for individual housing, and with construction starts up 14.0 pct against 3.7 pct for individual housing.