New Home Sales Rise in August by Largest Amount in 5 Months $ n1 z% d9 S1 C9 y: l _% ]7 A# G
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: H F3 G8 b% k! N, 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.# v x' w' q5 ^4 `
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.