Sales of newly-constructed homes slipped less than expected in August, pointing to some stabilization in a normally choppy market as demand stays strong. New home sales ran at a 609,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate, the Commerce Department said Monday. That was 20.6% higher compared to a year ago. The data tracking sales of new homes is often volatile and economists had expected a sharp reversal from the near 9-year high notched in July, but August’s numbers beat the median forecast of a 600,000 rate from economists surveyed by MarketWatch. An upward revision to July’s number, previously reported as 654,000, took ... (full story)