By Steve Goldstein
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Sales of new single-family homes climbed 5.5% in November, a government report said Thursday, as the housing market continues to show stability at weak levels. The Commerce Department said new-home sales rose to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 290,000, from a downwardly revised 275,000 in October. The sales level missed the MarketWatch-compiled economist estimate of 295,000, and the initial government report said October sales were 283,000. The pace of sales is 21.2% below that of November 2009. The median sales price of new houses sold in November was $213,000, up 8% on October but 2.6% below year-earlier levels.
