Purchases of new U.S. homes jumped in January to the highest level since July 2008, showing the industry will keep adding to growth in the economy.

Sales surged 15.6 percent to a 437,000 annual pace, exceeding the highest forecast in a Bloomberg survey and following a 378,000 rate in the prior month, figures from the Commerce Department showed Tuesday in Washington. The median estimate of 72 economists surveyed called for a 380,000 rate. The monthly gain was the biggest since 1993.