New home sales decline in AugustWASHINGTON — Sales of new homes retreated in August, one month after surging to the highest level in nearly nine years. Activity fell in all regions of the country except the West.New home sales dropped 7.6 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 609,000 units, the Commerce Department reported Monday. That followed a surge in sales in July when they jumped 13.8 percent to a rate of 659,000, the fastest pace since October 2007. Sales had been expected to slow following the July surge.One problem weighing on the industry is a lack of available homes for sale, both in the new home category and existing homes. Sales of existing homes slipped 0.9 percent in August. The median price of a new home sold in August was $284,000, down 3.1 percent from July and 5.3 percent lower than a year ago.

Firing over flu shots leads to federal suitERIE — Federal authorities are suing a northwestern Pennsylvania hospital alleging religious discrimination in the firing of six employees who refused to get flu shots.The lawsuit filed Thursday by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against Saint Vincent Hospital says the six were fired while medical exemptions were granted to 14 others in late 2013 and early 2014.Saint Vincent required certification by a clergy member and the fired employees were told they “did not provide proof of religious doctrine.”Saint Vincent officials said exemption requests are given “careful and appropriate consideration” and it disagrees with the commission’s characterization of how the employee claims were handled.Attorney Debra Lawrence said the plaintiffs were part of the Russian Orthodox, Independent Fundamental Baptist and Christian mysticism faiths.