WASHINGTON, Sept 24: US existing home sales fell a steeper-than-expected 2.2 per cent in August, industry data showed on Wednesday, amid deepening worries over the worst real-estate slump in decades.

The National Association of Realtors said sales of existing homes and apartments fell to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 4.91m units. The number underperformed market expectations of a pace of 4.93m units.

—AFP