WASHINGTON, July 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. new home sales dropped year on year in June, according to estimates released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Sales of new single-family houses amounted to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 627,000 units last month, according to the data.

The figure was down 6.6 percent year on year, but was 0.6 percent above the rate for May.

The country's National Association of Realtors said Wednesday that amid record-high prices, sales of existing homes dropped 2.7 percent month on month in June to 3.93 million units. ■