The Economy

• Housing starts fell in July, according to the Commerce Department. Housing starts fell 1% compared to June, while building permits sank by 1.8%. Economists had expected both numbers to climb.
• Lower prices in the energy sector and drops vegetables, eggs, and other food dragged down producer prices in July. The producer-price index for finished goods fell 0.9%. The core index, which strips out food and energy prices, declined 0.1%.