New Home Sales Rise in August by Largest Amount in 5 Months ; P) g" {: t; g, r6 `; x4 }# `# n2 ~& u+ a Z' [! M3 z6 n
5 f; t' `* |+ C' r9 i
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.- W+ U& `9 r& ~$ H4 c
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.