WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. developers started work on new homes at a faster pace in July, partly reversing a sharp drop the previous month. The figures suggest that housing construction is maintaining its recovery.

The Commerce Department says builders began work last month on houses and apartments at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 896,000. That was up 6 percent from June, though below a recent peak of just over 1 million in March. Construction began on 26 percent more apartments, a volatile category, but 2.2 percent fewer single-family houses.

Applications for permits for future home construction also rose, though mostly because of apartments. Permits rose 2.7 percent to 943,000, boosted by a 13.5 percent jump in apartment permits. Permits for single-family homes dipped 2 percent.

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