New Home Sales Rise in April

New home sales climbed 3.3% in April, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

Sales increased to an annual rate of 343,000 following a revised 332,000 rate in March that was higher than previously reported.

March’s rate was above economists’ median forecast of 335,000, Bloomberg reported.

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