New Home Sales in U.S. Rise 4.3 Percent in November

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According to HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau, sales of newly built, single-family homes in the U.S. rose 4.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 490,000 units in November 2015.

"It is encouraging to see new-home sales continue to tick upward," said Tom Woods, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Blue Springs, Mo. "Builders are also increasing their inventory even as they face difficulties accessing lots and labor."

"Limited gains in new-home sales can be attributed to a weak existing sales report," said NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe. "People who already own a house comprise most of the new residential construction market, and they often must sell their existing home before making another purchase."

Regionally, sales rose 20.5 percent in the West and 4.5 percent in the South. Sales fell 28.6 percent in the Northeast and 8.6 percent in the Midwest.

The inventory of new homes for sale was 232,000 units in November. This is a 5.7-month supply at the current sales pace.