New Home Sales Rise in August by Largest Amount in 5 Months $ `8 g1 F2 h: ^$ d) ^; p5 s8 {4 z, ]; `/ O I$ k1 \
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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. 9 R% ~# v x A) Y4 |0 c3 X7 f8 y% gSales 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.