WASHINGTON — U.S. home sales in July came in higher than many economists had predicted but were down by 10.2% compared with the same period a year ago, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Friday. Figures showed new homes rose 2.8% from June, ahead of consensus estimates of negative 1%. A surge of home sales in the Western states boosted the total, with sales improving by 22.4% from June. Other regions of the country showed slow or no growth from June.
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