U.S. new home sales down in April

WASHINGTON — New single-family home sales in the U.S. declined by a less-than-expected 1.5% in April, to a rate of 662,000 units, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. At the same time, figures for the last three months were revised down, with March’s final rate clocking in at 672,000 instead of 694,000 units as initially reported. Compared to last April, sales rose 11.6%.