June New Home Sales Rise to Record Level

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.S. new home sales rose 4% to a record in June, boosted by low mortgage rates, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

The gain, to an annual rate of 1.374 million homes, followed a 1.321 million rate in May that was greater than originally reported.

The rate exceeded economists’ forecasts, Bloomberg reported. Gains were more prominent in houses in the $150,000 to $199,000 range and more expensive new home sales declined, Bloomberg said.

Rising home sales can mean more business for flatbed trucking companies that haul building materials and dry van freight that haul household appliances and furniture.

Sales rose in all four U.S. geographic regions. They rose 5.1% in the South, 2.8% in the West, 2.1% in the Midwest and 7.2% in the Northeast.

ew home sales account for 15% of U.S. residential real estate sales.