New Home Sales Fall for September

New home sales fell 3.6% in September, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

Sales dropped to an annual rate of 402,000 units, Commerce said. The median selling price decreased 9.1% from September 2008.

Economists had forecast the September rate to rise to 440,000 units from an initially reported 429,000 in August, Bloomberg reported.

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

New home sales account for about 15% of residential real estate sales.