Sales of new one-family houses in October 1997 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 797,000, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of the Census and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 2 (+/—9) percent below the revised September rate of 811,000, but 13 (+/—11) percent above the October 1996 rate of 706,000.

The median sales price of new houses sold in October was $141,500; the mean sales price was $173,500. At the end of October the seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale was 290,000. This represents a supply of 4.4 months at the current sales rate.

Through October 1997 there were 691,000 houses sold compared with 652,000 houses sold during the same period last year. This is an increase of 6 (+/—3) percent.

								Avg Rise (%)
Category		Oct 97-P	Sep 97-R	Oct 96	1st 10 mos.-X
United States, (SAAR)	797		811		706	691
Northeast (SAAR)	 63 		 64		 69	 69
Midwest (SAAR)		128		130		113	118
South (SAAR)		377		372		329	313
West (SAAR)		230		244		195	191

P–Preliminary

R–Revised

X–Not seasonallly adjusted.
December 3, 1997 U.S. Department of Commerce


Statistics

12/02 CHICAGO BOT DELIVERABLE GRAIN STOCKS
12/02 REDBOOK RETAIL AVERAGES Retail Sales Index
12/04 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
12/01 U.S. EXPORT INSPECTIONS
12/04 EXPORT SALES REPORT
12/01 NAPM REPORT ON BUSINESS
12/02 COMPOSITE INDEXES OF LEADING, COINCIDENT, AND LAGGING OCTOBER 1997
12/02 OUTLOOK FOR U.S. AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS
12/01 OCTOBER 1997 CONSTRUCTION AT $605.5 BILLION ANNUAL RATE
12/04 HOUSING COMPLETIONS SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
12/03 OCTOBER 1997 NEW HOUSING SALES AT ANNUAL RATE OF 797,000
12/04 PRODUCTIVITY AND COSTS Third Quarter 1997
12/05 THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION NOVEMBER 1997
12/05 MANUFACTURERS' SHIPMENTS INVENTORIES AND ORDERS OCTOBER 1997

Consensus National Futures 
and Financial On Line Index



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