Investing.com - There were fewer than forecast sales of new homes in the United States in January, official data showed on Wednesday, in a further sign of the weakness of the U.S. housing market.
Sales of new single-family houses in January 2010 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 309,000, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development said in a joint statement, citing estimates.
Economists had expected the figure to rise to 354,000 from December's 348,000, which was revised upward from 342,000.
The median sales price of new houses sold in January was USD 203,500, the statement said; the average sales price was USD 254,500.
The U.S. dollar fell against the yen in the wake of the report, with USD/JPY shedding 0.4% to hit 89.86.