New Home Sales Rise in August by Largest Amount in 5 Months / `* _7 _2 p5 W! p
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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. , p0 t) O( |+ S3 R2 \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.