HOME CONTRACTS UP

For the second straight month, the number of people entering into real estate contracts rose (this reflects May and June, the latest complete months available). According to the National Association of Realtors, its index of sales agreements for resale homes went up 2.4% in June, with a reading of 90.9. Most economists want to see that reading at 100 to signal a healthy market. The last time it was that high was April 2010, the last month of the federal tax credit.