<b></b>Private sector starts in April this year were a massive 49% up on the same time last year according to figures from the National House-Building Council, while completions were up 11%. 14,795 applications for private starts were made in the month against 9,933 last year. The increase mainly reflects a particularly bad month in April 2001, but NHBC chief executive Imtiaz Farookhi said: &amp;“Cumulative registrations in the first four months of 2002 are showing a 16% improvement on the same period in 2001 and the market seems to be exceptionally buoyant.&amp;”<br>The latest HBF survey (May) shows another record high of those experiencing price rises (+78), and visitors and net reservations were well above May last year. However the rate of growth has slowed. Growth in visitor and net reservation figures for June are expected to plummet, perhaps even showing a fall, because of the Jubilee and World Cup. <p></p><p><b><br> <b>HBF Monthly Survey Summary Results</b><br> <b>Activity in the month compared with the same month a year ago (balance*)</b><br> &amp; <b>Feb</b> <b>March</b> <b>April</b> <b>May</b><br> Site visitors +45 +40 +34 +26<br> Net reservations +51 +55 +57 +44<br> <b>Net house price change during the month (balance*)</b><br> &amp; +64 +73 +76 +78<br> <b>Companies expecting higher …