New Home Sales Rise in August by Largest Amount in 5 Months 9 K0 _% j1 j+ O3 _1 v7 a3 o6 q5 e( e( a8 p; N" V, O9 y3 E
: X% }$ ^" c, b) q0 `/ [WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sales of new homes posted the biggest increase in five months in August, raising hopes that the steep slide in the housing industry may be leveling off.# J+ i7 a% S! N; m/ _
Sales of new single-family homes increased by 4.1 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.05 million units, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. It was the biggest increase since an 8 percent gain in March.