The number of permits issued for residential buildings declined between the months of January and February in the states of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said in a Monday report. This month-over-month declines occurred even as the number of residential building units issued in the same segment rose 3.5% nationally. Meanwhile, single-family residential permits fell 11.1% in Delaware, 26.6% in New Jersey and 38.1% in Pennsylvania in February, while rising 0.8% nationally, the report said. When calculating the number of total permits issued in February, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania all experienced year-over-year declines. Nationally, the number of total permits issued last month also dropped when compared to February 2010 levels. “Compared with year-ago levels, which were aided by the housing tax credit, permit issuance in February was down in each of the three states and in the nation,” the report said. Write to Kerri Panchuk.