WASHINGTON, March 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. new home sales fell 6.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 607,000 in January, the U.S. Census Bureau said on Thursday.
Over the year, sales of new homes declined 4.1 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Meanwhile, new home sales in December was revised up to 652,000 from the previously reported 621,000, according to the Census Bureau.
The estimate of new houses for sale at the end of January was 336,000, which represents a supply of 6.6 months at the current sales rate, said the Census Bureau.
Besides, the median sales price of new houses sold in January was 317,200 U.S. dollars while average sales price was 373,100 dollars.
Even as low mortgage rates kept boosting home buyers' interest, housing market remained gloomy in the United States.
The Federal National Mortgage Association, commonly known as Fannie Mae, reported on Wednesday that mortgage lenders' outlook on net profit margin had stayed negative for the tenth consecutive quarter.
The January new home sales data was delayed due to the partial government shutdown. The Census Bureau is scheduled to release February new home sales data on March 29.
