New Home Sales Rise in August by Largest Amount in 5 Months ' b1 x% y8 Y8 |* S
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" t) O. N7 s. m- |) ]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.) h Z& f9 k- |" g& R
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.