The December figure was the highest monthly level of 1990.

This is a modest increase from the monthly level of about 700 early in the year.

The May total was the lowest monthly level of the year.

But at the same time the number of new jobs has fallen to its lowest monthly level since last August.

It is also one of the highest monthly levels since the options market peaked - and crashed - in 1987.

The nation's trade deficit jumped in July to $9.33 billion, the second-highest monthly level this year.

That's the lowest monthly level of purchasing in two years.

Those deals drove industry sales to the highest monthly level ever in October.

The May figure was the highest monthly level since March 1981, when the association reported $358.8 million in new orders.

No monthly level has been lower since the $8 billion of December 1984.