U.S. new home sales rose in December

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Sales of new one-family houses last month in the United States rose 2.9 percent, the U.S. Commerce Department said Friday.

The department said December 2005 new residence sales were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.269 million. Economists had expected a less robust 1.25 million.

The sales rate in November was revised lower to 1.233 million from 1.245 million previously. For all of 2005, new home sales rose 6.6 percent to a record 1.282 million.