Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell in August to the slowest annual pace in nearly a year even as mortgage rates eased and the supply of properties on the market kept rising.

U.S. existing home sales fell more than expected in August as house prices remained elevated despite a continued improvement in supply.

Tight supply is keeping the pressure on prices. The median price of an existing home sold in August was $416,700, up 3.1% from the same month in 2023. That is the highest price ever for August.

Sales decreased 2.5% month on month to a 3.86 million according to a report from the National Association of Realtors

Sales of previously owned homes in August fell 2.5% from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.86 million, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday.

Home sales fell 2.5% last month, from July, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.86 million, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday. Sales fell 4.2% compared with August last year. The latest home sales were short of the 3.