Weakening economy may account for drop in new home construction.(Pittsburgh suburbs)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

National housing starts are down by 10 percent

The pace of new home construction is expected to slip again this year due to the region's stagnant population growth and uncertainty about the economy.

In 2000, the number of single-family homes started in the Greater Pittsburgh area was down 8.4 percent from 1999, while apartment or single-family attached housing construction remained virtually unchanged from 1999, said Jeff Burd, president of Pittsburgh Construction News, an online construction market tracking and research firm

By comparison, housing starts are down nationally by 10 percent or more, Mr. Burd said.

The rate at which …