A strong surge by Freightliner Trucks helped lead heavy-duty U.S. retail truck sales to a 21% increase in September, the ninth straight month of improved Class 8 sales from last year, WardsAuto.com reported.

Used-truck dealers, facing a dearth of late-model, low-mileage vehicles after large fleets drained the market earlier this year, shopped aggressively in August, pushing sales up 55% from year-ago levels, according to industry sources.

New home sales were unchanged in August, following a record drop in July, the Commerce Department said Friday.

Sales of existing home rose in August from record low in July, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday.

U.S. Class 8 truck sales climbed 23.5% in August from year-ago levels, pushing sales for the first eight months of 2010 to 16.5% higher than last year’s results for the comparable period, WardsAuto.com reported.

Retail sales rose in August for the second consecutive month, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

Sales of existing home plunged 27.2% in July, the third straight monthly decline, the National Association of Realtors said Tuesday.

Heavy-duty U.S. retail truck sales continued their steady climb last month, increasing 27.8% compared with July 2009, according to the most recent survey from WardsAuto.com.

Retail sales rose 0.4% in July, let by higher auto and gasoline sales, the Commerce Department said Friday.

New home sales increased 24% in June following a large decrease the month before, the Commerce Department said Monday.