U.S. new home sales jump in December

WASHINGTON —  Sales of new single-family dwellings in the U.S. surged in December after a month of decline, the U.S. Commerce Department announced. Sales rose 11.6% to a SAAR of 481, 000 units, outstripping forecasts of about 450,000. New home sales remained fairly flat for most of 2014, and the December rate is the highest in six years.