Sales of new single-family houses in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 481,000, a 0.2 percent decline from the December rate of 482,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
This represents a 5.3 percent increase from the January 2014 estimate of 457,000.
The amount of the decrease was a promising sign, said Tom Woods, National Association of Home Builders chairman, in a statement.
"The fact that January sales numbers maintained the gains we made in December is encouraging news, especially considering harsh weather affecting certain parts of the country," he added.
The median price of new houses sold in January was $294,300, and the average sales price was $348,300.
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