Durable Goods Orders Jump

Good news on a Friday. Durable goods sales in July rose, according to the lastest Commerce Department report issued on Friday. Orders for durable goods—big, long-lasting products like cars and furniture—rose 4.2 percent, helped out by a jump in manufactured goods, including aircraft. The news comes on the heels of a similar rise in both retail and housing sales for July. But don’t start celebrating yet: the report cited declines in orders for heavy manufacturing products, hinting that factories may still be scaling back.