Home starts in California dive in April

California builders broke ground on one-third fewer homes last month as the state's housing market continued to cool, data showed.

Housing starts -- as measured by building permits issued -- totaled 10,355 last month, a 30.4% drop from a year earlier and a 24% decrease from the month before, the California Building Industry Assn. reported.

Since January, production began on 43,418 houses, condominiums and apartments, 28% fewer than last year's total, the group said.