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September 25, 2003 9:00 AM, EDT

Two independent reports showed increases in the sales of existing and new homes in recent months.

The Commerce Department said that new home sales rose 3.4% to an annual rate of 1.15 million in August. The increase follows a 2.9% decline in new home sales in the previous month.

Sales of existing single-family homes rose 5.5% to an annual rate of 6.47 million, the National Association of Realtors said in their report Thursday.

Bloomberg News said economists had expected declines in both reports.

Rising home sales can be a boost to certain segments of the trucking industry, like movers, or home goods delivery firms as new homeowners move into their houses or purchase new appliances for their homes.

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