Inflation & Prices

US Sales of New Homes Unexpectedly Rise in a Break From Downturn

  • August sales pace rose almost 29% to the fastest since March
  • Purchases broad-based across regions; inventory little changed

A "For Sale" sign is displayed outside a home in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Photographer: Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

US sales of new homes unexpectedly rose in August, representing a break in an otherwise rapid descent this year for a housing market still at risk of further deterioration as mortgage rates climb.

Purchases of new single-family homes increased nearly 29% to a 685,000 annualized pace, government data showed Tuesday. The August rate was firmer than the most optimistic forecast in a Bloomberg survey of economists.