WASHINGTON—New orders for durable goods increased $12.4 billion or 5.7 percent in February to $232.1 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau said Tuesday. Orders have increased five of the past six months.

WASHINGTON—Existing-home sales rose 0.8 percent in February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.98 million, reaching the highest level since November 2009.

WASHINGTON—CEOs’ expectations for the economy over the next six months have improved due to expected higher sales and capital spending, but expectations for hiring remain flat, according to the last economic outlook survey from the Business Roundtable.

WASHINGTON—Manufacturing grew in February at the fastest pace in 20 months, according to a report Friday from the Institute for Supply Management. And a survey from the University of Michigan showed that consumer sentiment rose last month to its highest level since November.

WASHINGTON, DC—The equipment leasing and finance index rose for a third straight month in February, reflecting increasing optimism about the economy.

ASHEVILLE, NC—President Barack Obama visited a truck parts assembly plant here to highlight the role of U.S. manufacturing in reviving the economy, and to follow up on his State of the Union message of strengthening the middle class.

The role of manufacturing in the global economy is evolving. What will the future hold?

NEW YORK—The Dow industrials topped 14,000 for the first time since 2007, capping their fifth-straight weekly gain, following encouraging data on U.S. jobs and manufacturing.

WASHINGTON—Americans are more positive about the economy than they have been at any time since Gallup began tracking economic confidence daily in January 2008.

EVANSTON, IL—Twenty-eight of the nation’s top fifty industrial cities posted gains in manufacturing jobs last year, according to a new report released by Manufacturers’ News. This was an improvement from 2011, when only 17 cities saw increases.