New Home Sales Rise in August by Largest Amount in 5 Months V$ U1 v6 }" c4 T# ~5 I
; k! I: E. q* k& |7 L1 d& g - v9 \" v$ Q5 v$ z8 i; ?- jWASHINGTON (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.* C: q3 X) K. d l4 f
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.