New Home Sales Rise in August by Largest Amount in 5 Months 6 T$ `2 n. z5 G. ^# E0 s; b; M4 L8 i# m% P; N
2 g; t# c" s& ~, R- |8 X/ uWASHINGTON (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. 1 ?+ Z+ I! K; N; NSales 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.