WASHINGTON, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. new home sales increased unexpectedly in October as home buyers acted before a government's incentive to stimulate the housing market expires by the end of this month, official data reported Wednesday.

    The Commerce Department says new home sales in October rose 6.2percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 430,000 from a upwardly revised September rate of 405,000.

    The October increase, which was the highest of more than a year, was better than the forecasts of economists who expected a pace of410,000 units.

    The median sales price of 212,200 U.S. dollars in October, was down 0.5 percent from 213,200 dollars a year earlier.

    Analysts say that the housing market was largely driven by the government's stimulus policy.

    A 8,000 dollars tax credit program for first-time home buyers, which was set to be due on Nov. 30, was extended by the Congress earlier this month to April 30 next year.