Sales of new homes rose 0.3% last month, the Commerce Department reported today.
The numbers from April-a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 352,000-were 34% below those of April 2008.
In March, sales were at an adjusted annual rate of 351,000.
The median sales price of new houses sold in April 2009 was $209,700, compared with $201,400 in March. The average sale price was $254,000, compared with $258,000 in March.
New home sales were unchanged from their March levels in the Northeast and Midwest, increased 1.9% in the South and fell 3.8% in the West.
The year-to-year sales figures declined in all four regions: 52.5% in the Northeast, 45.8% in the Midwest, 25.4% in the South and 39.7% in the West.
Today's figures are the second bit of good news on the housing front this week. Yesterday, the National Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales increased 2.9% last month.
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.