New Home Sales Rise in August by Largest Amount in 5 Months 6 T/ |2 {# Z' h- [2 [+ J( O 5 O' _! [3 V8 y# f: Y6 T: }! t6 W/ R9 `" U
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./ O+ z4 {; a! P/ M- Z
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.