Consumer spending fell in April after the biggest surge in almost five years as incomes slowed, a sign the largest part of the U.S. economy will take time to accelerate.

Contracts to purchase previously owned homes rose in April for the second straight month, a sign the residential real estate market is stabilizing after a weak start to the year.

Jobless claims fell by 27,000 to 300,000 in the week ended May 24, the Labor Department reported.

Home prices in 20 U.S. cities rose at a slower pace in the year ended in March as the housing market began to weaken at the start of 2014.

The Conference Board’s index of U.S. consumer confidence increased to 83 in May from 81.7 a month earlier, the New York-based private research group said today.

Sales of new homes rose 6.4% in April to a 433,000 annualized pace from a revised 407,000 in March that was larger than initially estimated, the Commerce Department reported.

Sales of previously owned homes rose in April for the first time in four months as the weather warmed, price increases slowed and more properties were put on the market.

Jobless claims increased by 28,000 to 326,000 in the week ended May 17, after 298,000 filings a week earlier that were higher than initially reported, according to the Labor Department.