Housing permits dip

Housing permits in Connecticut slowed in March after nearly quadrupling in February compared with a year ago.

The 222 permits authorized statewide last month matched the same figure approved in March of 2011. But housing permits OK'd so far this year now total 777, nearly 76 percent above the numbers recorded in the first three months of last year. umbers are still well below historic norms for state housing permits and less than half first-quarter statistics seen in the boom years of 2004-2006.

Locally, East Lyme and Stonington lead the way in the number of permit approvals, with seven apiece.

- Lee Howard