United States sales of new homes fell 16.9% last month compared with January and by a whopping 28% from the level of February 2010, the U.S. Commerce Department said. The February 2011 figure represents an annualized rate of 250,000 new home sales. Analysts had expected an annualized rate of 290,000.
The number of US homes being repossessed hit an all-time high last month, but is set to start falling, says the body that tracks the figures. Banks took control of 92,432 properties in April, up 1% from March, and a 45% rise from a year earlier, said RealtyTrac.