National Digest

Existing home sales fall in August

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A trade group for real estate agents says sales of existing homes fell by 2.2 percent in August, but the number of unsold homes on the market also dropped sharply from the previous month's record high.

The National Association of Realtors says sales fell to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.91 million units, from an upwardly revised pace of 5.02 million in July.

Health insurance costs up 5 percent

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Health insurance premiums rose a modest 5 percent this year for coverage that's getting skimpier, researchers say.

The...