WASHINGTON, March 20 (Reuters) – U.S. existing home sales unexpectedly increased in February as rising supply pulled buyers back into the market, but rising economic uncertainty could limit further gains.

Home sales rose 4.2% last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.26 million units, the National Association of Realtors said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast home resales would drop to a rate of 3.95 million units.