US DATA: Aug new homes sales -2.3% to 295k, in line with expectations
and following slight upward revisions to July and June totaling 7k.
Sales were down in all regions except the MW, where they rose 8.2%.
Sales were -13.6% in the NE, -6.3% in West, and -2.4% in the South.
Supply of new homes for sale was -1.2% to record low 162k, but the
months supply rose to 6.6 months at the current sales rate in Aug
from 6.5 months in July due to the larger total sales decline. The
median sales price fell 8.7% to $209,100 from $228,900, and was down
7.7% y/y. Overall still reflects weak housing.