US New-Home Sales Rebound in September

By Jim O'Neill,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 25, 2007 12:25 PM CDT
US New-Home Sales Rebound in September
Brian Ramsey delivers wood trim to a new home under construction, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007, in Pepper Pike, Ohio. Sales of new homes posted an unexpected gain in September although the improvement came after sales had fallen to the slowest pace in more than a decade. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)   (Associated Press)

In the face of dismal August numbers, sales of new homes in September increased 4.8%, driven by demand in the western US, the Wall Street Journal reports. Despite the unexpected bump, the updated August figures, which reflect an 11-year low, are fueling worries the economy will remain pinned under the weight of the sagging housing market.

Related industries are suffering as buyers cut back on purchases of furniture and appliances. Experts say there’s more to come. “Sales have further to fall,” predicts one economist. There were 523,000 homes for sale last month, down 1.5%, and the lowest number since January 2006. Still, the median price was $238,000, a 5% increase from a year ago. (More US economy stories.)

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