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US home sales fall at record pace US home sales fall at record pace
(10 minutes later)
Sales of new US homes fell at a record pace in 2007, figures from the US Commerce Department have shown.Sales of new US homes fell at a record pace in 2007, figures from the US Commerce Department have shown.
The number of new homes sold sank 26.4% to 774,000, which beat the previous record fall of 23.1% set in 1980.The number of new homes sold sank 26.4% to 774,000, which beat the previous record fall of 23.1% set in 1980.
The report also showed that new home sales in December fell 40.7% from the same month in 2006 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 604,000.The report also showed that new home sales in December fell 40.7% from the same month in 2006 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 604,000.
The weakness in the US housing sector has led some analysts to fear that the economy is heading for a recession.The weakness in the US housing sector has led some analysts to fear that the economy is heading for a recession.
"It's a pretty big drop and it clearly shows the housing market continues to deteriorate," said Kurt Karl, chief US economist with Swiss Re.
"Supply is building up and there's no indication demand will catch up anytime soon."