US new-home sales jump in April

WASHINGTON — More Americans bought new homes in April — evidence that the stronger job market is powering the housing sector.

The Commerce Department said Tuesday that new-home sales climbed 6.8 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 517,000. Sales recovered from a 10 percent dip in March to an annual pace of 484,000.

The gains point to the positive momentum created by robust hiring over the past year. Employers have added more than 3 million jobs as the unemployment rate has steadily dropped to 5.4 percent. Those new paychecks are now starting to trickle into the real estate…