New Home Sales Rise in August by Largest Amount in 5 Months 6 w4 R" E% ?" t) p1 A9 i2 O) L( ~# L) U( T
8 a: ~5 L& s7 QWASHINGTON (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. 4 Z7 b4 l1 T# p( Q" g/ XSales 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.