New Home Sales Rise in August by Largest Amount in 5 Months 3 h# L- r9 e/ J9 I. Z: H6 I2 D% B2 p' T# a6 A4 ^
* ^$ l( c9 n1 X2 d# |6 KWASHINGTON (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. 9 g8 `2 x4 p! E' d) O2 M0 N8 N/ A9 \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.