Shanghai Daily: Business - shanghaidaily.com
SALES of new homes in the US fell in November, signaling no end to the housing recession that threatens to stall economic growth, economists said before a report this week. Purchases fell to an annual pace of 718,000 from 728,000 in October, according to the median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. The 716,000 pace reached in September was the lowest since 1996, according to Bloomberg News. The real estate slump, already the deepest in 16 years, shows no sign of abating as discounts fail to lure buyers and inventories swell. The risk that the slowdown will spread through the entire economy is prompting business to rein in orders for new equipment, a separate report may also show. "We're not in line for any good news on housing for a long period of time," said Mike Schenk, chief economist at the Credit Union National Association, in Madison, Wisconsin. "It's a sector that will take a long time to turn around." The home sale figures are due