New residential sales jump in U.S.

WASHINGTON — Sales of new single-family houses in October 2013 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 444,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 25.4% above the revised September rate of 354,000 and is 21.6% above the October 2012 estimate of 365,000. The median sales price of new houses sold in October 2013 was $245,800; the average sales price was $321,700.