From Baton Rouge Business Report

Bustling business: Sales of new homes posted another large gain in April as buyers rushed to sign contracts before government tax credits expired. The Commerce Department says sales of new single-family homes jumped 14.8% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 504,000 units. The April gain followed a 29.8% surge in March, the biggest monthly increase in 47 years. Activity in both months was pushed higher by a stampede of buyers trying to sign sales contracts before tax credits expired on April 30.