New Home Sales Rise in August by Largest Amount in 5 Months 4 g2 P' o5 B2 l/ j3 l8 K: _" D/ u& z& h& B/ z" v; T; Z
% S, [. D9 h& q) c; j" J r3 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.& p y+ M: G7 F: Q
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.