Pending Sales of U.S. Existing Homes Rose in December

Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

The number of Americans signing contracts to buy previously owned homes rose in December for a third month, showing the industry that triggered the recession was stabilizing heading into 2011.

The index of pending home resales climbed 2 percent, more than forecast, after a revised 3.1 percent gain the prior month, figures from the National Association of Realtors showed today in Washington. The median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey called for a 1 percent increase.