HARTFORD — A state economic development agency says that new housing starts in Connecticut dropped 16 percent last year, but the figures were better than those in the region and the nation.

The state Department of Economic and Community Development says the state's 169 towns and cites issued 7,746 housing permits last year, down from the 9,236 issued in 2006.

But a research analyst from the state agency says the state's decline was not as bad as the drops seen throughout New England and the country.

Kolie Sun says housing permits declined 20 percent in New England and 24 percent nationwide last year.

Fairfield County was the only region to increase new housing. It was up 18 percent last year.

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