January housing permits in Connecticut continued a recent upward trend by rising more than 50 percent compared with the same month last year, according to a report released today shows.

The housing-permit report, issued by the state Department of Economic and Community Development, indicated 236 building approvals last month among municipalities reporting figures. This compares with 154 permits approved for the same month last year.

January is traditionally one of the slowest months for approvals.

The 236 permits approved last month represented the largest number for January since 2008. Nine years ago, the highwater mark for a January, 615 permits were issued.