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American factories, propelled by the strongest orders of the year, sustained gains in June and are poised to be part of the rebound in economic growth.

Growth at U.S. factories held in June near the fastest pace of the year, a sign that manufacturing helped boost the economy in the second quarter.

The number of contracts to purchase previously owned U.S. homes jumped in May by the most in more than four years, a sign the residential-real estate market is rebounding after a slow start to the year.

Consumer spending in the United States grew in May as Americans used gains in income to shore up household finances.

Fewer Americans filed applications for unemployment benefits last week, a sign of steady progress in the labor market.

The Commerce Department opened the door to more U.S. oil exports as long as the crude is lightly processed, tempering the impact of a law that has banned most such shipments for the past 40 years.

Orders for U.S. business equipment climbed in May, showing corporate investment is helping revive the economy after a slump at the start of the year.

Sales of new homes increased 18.6% in May, the biggest one-month gain since January 1992, to a 504,000 annualized pace, figures from the Commerce Department showed June 24 in Washington.