US home sales record slight rise

House prices are 15.4% less than a year earlier

Sales of previously-owned US homes rose slightly in April, the main estate agent body has reported.

The National Association of Realtors said sales rose 2.9% to an annual rate of 4.68 million last month, up from 4.55 million in March.

The latest figures were slightly ahead of analysts' expectations.

Those people that did buy homes last month were able to take advantage of prices 15.4% lower than last year, as property values continue to fall.