The U.S. October housing data were a mixed bag -- they indicate housing demand was not collapsing after September 11, perhaps because low mortgage interest rates brought out some buyers, but they also suggest the housing market might weaken ahead. U.S. October housing starts fell 1.3% to 1.552M, with all the drop in the West -- the area least directly affected by the terrorism. One-family starts fell 1.2%, a modest decline that shows housing remains at a high level even after September 11.