Sales of new single-family homes in the United States increased in June, reflecting continued resilience in the housing market amid broader economic activity gains. According to data released Friday by the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, new home sales rose to an annual rate of 628,000 units in June, up from 618,000 units in May. This figure exceeded economists’ expectations, which had projected sales of 606,000 units for the month. Meanwhile, the inventory of new homes for sale remained relatively steady at 485,000 in June, compared with 486,000 in May. The median sales price of new houses sold in June was $398,300, marking a 3.3% decrease from the previous month.

The rise in home sales coincided with signs of broad-based economic activity gains across several major regions in July. Surveys conducted by S&P Global showed an increase in the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for the United States, which measures activity in both services and manufacturing sectors. The U.S. composite PMI climbed to 53.6 in July from 51.9 in June, reaching its highest level in eight months. Readings above 50 indicate expansion, suggesting growth in business activity.

Similarly, the eurozone’s PMI rose to 51.9 in July from 50.0 in June, marking its highest level in five months. The United Kingdom also recorded an increase in its composite PMI, reaching its strongest point in three months. Other economies in Asia and the Pacific, including Japan and Australia, reported acceleration in their activity levels during the same period.

Global trade flows showed resilience amid these developments, with goods movement rising for a second consecutive month in May. The Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (CPB) reported that global trade volume increased by 1% compared to April, a rise following the previous month’s 0.3% growth. Key contributors included a boom in artificial intelligence-related investment, which fueled heightened demand for semiconductors and data center equipment.

Country-specific data reflected these trends as well. Chinese exports grew by 2.6% in May, Japan’s overseas goods sales increased by 4%, and U.S. imports rose by 2.3%. However, concerns remain over the sustainability of this momentum, particularly given the recent surge in energy prices linked to renewed tensions between the United States and Iran, as well as the potential negative impact of a fresh round of U.S. tariff increases on global trade for the remainder of the year.