Home sales post unexpected April increase

WASHINGTON — Sales of new homes rose in April for the first time in six months, although the unexpected increase still left activity near the lowest level in 17 years. The Commerce Department reported that sales of new homes rose 3.3% in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 526,000 units. But the government revised March activity lower to show an even bigger drop of 11% to an annual rate of 509,000, which was the weakest pace for sales since April 1991. Economists believe that new home sales will remain weak for some time as the housing industry struggles with falling prices and rising mortgage foreclosures, which are dumping even more homes on an already glutted market. For the full story visit http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-homes28-2008may28,0,2372957.story