(Kitco News) – Hopes for a stabilizing U.S. housing market were weakened after the number of potential home buyers fell beyond expectations last month, according to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).The U.S. pending home sales index fell -0.8% in January, the NAR announced on Thursday. The data was worse than forecasts, as economists expected a 1.3% rise. December’s print was revised up to -7.4% from -9.3%. Month-over-month pending home sales rose in the Midwest and West, but declined in the Northeast and South.
