WASHINGTON - A rush of homebuyers aiming to meet a deadline to qualify for a federal tax credit pushed the number of signed sales contracts to the highest level since October.

The National Association of Realtors said Wednesday its seasonally adjusted index of sales agreements for previously occupied homes rose 6 percent in April from a month earlier to a reading of 110.9. March's reading was revised upward to 104.6.

The rise marked the third consecutive month of increases, all aided by federal tax credits of up to $8,000.

But the credits expired on April 30. Many analysts expect sales to drop in the coming months.

"Clearly, the race to meet the tax credit deadline has left the home-buying pipeline rather empty, and we fear that still high unemployment, heavy indebtedness and tight credit will mean that it stays that way," wrote Paul Dales, a U.S. economist with Capital Economics.

Evidence of a slowing market was apparent Wednesday when the Mortgage Bankers Association released a weekly report on applications to purchase homes. Applications fell for the fourth straight week to the lowest level since April 1997.

The Realtors index provides an early measurement of sales activity because there is usually a one- to two-month lag between a sales contract and a completed deal.

A reading of 100 is equal to the average level of sales activity in 2001, when the index started.

Actual sales in Florida during April shot up 27 percent, Florida Realtors reported earlier this month. The group also attributed the increase to the tax credit and nearly record-low interest rates.