Sales of new U.S. homes rose unexpectedly in April, climbing 0.2 percent to a fresh record, a government report showed on Wednesday.
The Commerce Department said new single-family home sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.316 million units, a new record, from a downwardly revised 1.313 million rate in March. Analysts had expected April sales to decline 0.1 percent to a 1.350 million rate, from the previously reported 1.431 million pace.
