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January 27, 2006 10:10 AM, EST

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ew home sales rose again in December, capping a record year, the Commerce Department said Friday.

The 2.9% increase to a 1.269 million-homes annual rate followed a revised November level of 1.233 million, Commerce said.

The rate exceeded economists’ forecasts of a dip to 1.225 million from November’s originally reported rate of 1.245 million, Bloomberg reported.

ising home sales can mean more business for flatbed trucking companies that haul building materials and dry van freight that haul household appliances and furniture.

New home sales rose in two of four regions, gaining 11% in the West and 23% in the Midwest, while falling 23% in the Northeast and 2.6% in the South.

ew home sales account for about 15% of U.S. residential real estate sales.