New home sales jump in U.S.

WASHINGTON —  Sales of new single-family houses in January 2014 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 468,000, according to estimates released jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 9.6% above the revised December rate of 427,000 and is 2.2% above the  January 2013 estimate of 458,000.