New Home Sales Rise in August by Largest Amount in 5 Months 7 X j* o' l* C F2 ~# f3 m
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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. # f, O7 I+ Y) f! ^/ k1 CSales 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.