The construction of U.S. single-family housing surged in September, though a drop in apartment building pushed overall home building activity to an 18 month low. In its Beige Book report also published on Wednesday, the Federal Reserve struck an upbeat note on the housing market, saying residential real estate activity expanded in most districts in recent weeks. Single-family housing starts, which account for the largest share of the residential housing market, jumped 8.1 percent to a 783,000-unit pace last month.