New Home Sales Rise 2.6%

New home sales rose for the first time in six months in March, gaining 2.6%, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.
 
The increase to an annual rate of 858,000 from the previous month was below economists’ forecasts of an increase to 890,000, 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.