New Home Sales Rise in August by Largest Amount in 5 Months ' |9 n3 H8 g; t' ]3 d! `/ \4 i
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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.* ]; L4 T7 `( a1 v' G" H4 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.