Sales of new homes stood at 546,000 units through the end of May, 2.2 percent better than April and 19.5 percent higher than at the same time in 2014.

The seasonally adjusted annual rate of sales of new single-family homes in May was nearly 20 percent better than in the same month in 2014.

At the end of May, the annual rate stood at 546,000 units, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development said in a joint news release.

This is 2.2 percent higher than the revised April rate of 534,000 units, and 19.5 percent above the May 2014 estimate of 457,000.

Federal officials said the median sales price of new houses sold in May 2015 was $282,800, while the average sales price was $337,000, the federal agencies said in the joint statement.

The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of May was 206,000. This represents a supply of 4.5 months at the current sales rate.