Contrary to forecasts of a 1% rise.

WASHINGTON, March 4 (Reuters) - Contracts for pending sales of previously owned homes unexpectedly fell in January, a survey showed, brought down in part by harsh weather in the U.S. Northeast.

The National Association of Realtors said its Pending Home Sales Index, based on contracts signed in January, fell 7.6 percent to 90.4 from an upwardly revised 97.8 in December.

Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast pending home sales, which lead existing home sales by one to two months, would rise 1 percent in January.

Compared to January 2009, the index was up 12.3 percent. (Reporting by Corbett B. Daly; Editing by Padraic Cassidy)

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US fragile economy The end of the US winter, coupled with the end to (the current) stimulus package would indicate a worst case scenario for US sentiment. If there is no improvement in sentiment going into spring and summer, then next winter will be a lot colder - . .more despite global warming . .less by bergen on March 04 2010, 21:18 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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