Sales of new homes fell 5.2% in...

Sales of new homes fell 5.2% in September, the biggest decline since May, the Commerce Department said. The fall was attributed to a sharp run-up in mortgage rates. New single-family homes were sold at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 656,000 units in September, following increases of 2.5% in August and 5.3% in July. The median price of a new home shot up in 8.5% in September to $115,600; the average price was up 7.9%, to $139,800.