Sales of new single-family dwellings south of the border rose to a seven-month high in December, though November's outsized jump was revised lower, pointing to continued weakness in the housing market.
Figures released Tuesday by the U.S. Commerce Department showed new home sales increased 3.7% to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 621,000 units, the highest level since May 2018. November's sales pace was revised down to 599,000 units from the previously reported 657,000 units.
Economists had forecast new home sales, which account for about 11.2% of housing market sales, falling 8.7% to a pace of 600,000 units in December.
New home sales are drawn from permits and tend to be volatile on a month-to-month basis. They fell 2.4% from a year ago. Single-family home sales rose 1.5% in 2018.
The release of the December report was delayed by a five-week partial shutdown of the federal government that ended on Jan. 25.
