Orders for so-called durable goods increased 1.8% in May from April, the Commerce Department just said.

And, Commerce added, that marks "the third increase in the last four months." The boosts are another sign that the economy may be firming up.

Durable goods are items such as factory equipment that are designed to last at least a few years.

Update at 10:10 a.m. ET. Sales of new homes dip:

The Commerce Department just reported that sales of newly constructed homes fell 0.6% in May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 342,000. Sales were down nearly 33% from a year earlier.