Sales of new U.S. single-family homes surged to more than a three-year high in April as builders lowered prices to attract buyers, but rising mortgage rates and economic uncertainty remained headwinds for the housing market.

US new-home sales rose unexpectedly in April to the highest level since February 2022, likely helped by builder incentives aimed at alleviating affordability challenges.

The slowest sales pace for any April in 16 years indicates the spring selling season is shaping up as a bust.

The live-action remake of “Lilo & Stitch” and the adrenaline-fueled “Mission: Impossible -- The Final Reckoning” racked up a combined $494.2 million in worldwide ticket sales, including $208.5 million in the U.

Sales of existing homes slowed in April compared to March, as rising prices and high mortgage rates put a damper on demand.

British retail sales rose 1.2 per cent in April, significantly overshooting analysts’ expectations as warm weather encouraged consumers to spend more. Economists polled by Reuters had expected the volume of goods sold to rise 0.2 per cent in the month, after a revised increase of 0.1 per cent in March.

Small and mid-sized publicly traded companies posted their strongest sales in over two years, driven by a weaker dollar and pre-tariff stockpiling. Yet, investors remain wary that the momentum may not last.

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell in April, as elevated mortgage rates and rising prices discouraged prospective home shoppers during what’s traditionally the busiest time of the year for the housing market.