WASHINGTON, Sept 24, 2008 (AFP) - US existing home sales fell a steeper-than-expected 2.2 percent in August, industry data showed Wednesday, amid deepening worries over the worst real-estate slump in decades.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) said sales of existing homes and apartments fell to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 4.91 million units.

The number underperformed market expectations of a pace of 4.93 million units.