New Home Sales Rise in August by Largest Amount in 5 Months % P' i# a( x5 P; ]( t. s
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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. % f1 J, W3 I; i" F9 WSales 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.