US new home sales unexpectedly fall 17.6% in January

ISTANBUL

New home sales in the US unexpectedly plunged 17.6% month-on-month in January, according to US Census Bureau data released Thursday.

The sales amounted to 587,000 units, down from 712,000 in December.

Markets had expected the figure to rise to 722,000.

On a yearly basis, the number of houses sold in January was also down 11.3%.

The agency said the median sales price of new homes in January was $400,500, down 4.5% from December.

The average sales price of new homes in January was $499,500, down 5.9% month-on-month.