New U.S. home sales posted a tepid increase last month, missing Wall Street expectations and providing more evidence that the housing market recovery remains tentative.

Consumers and businesses went on a big-ticket spending spree in July, sending home, car and equipment sales soaring by the largest amounts in years. The sales, detailed in two government reports yesterday, confirmed a subtle but marked shift in confidence about the economy. New home sales jumped almost 10 percent from June, while orders for long-lasting goods such as appliances, planes and computers rose nearly 5 percent in July, the third increase in the past four months.

Purchases of new homes in the U.S. climbed 11 percent in June, the biggest gain in eight years, underscoring evidence that the deepest housing slump since the Great Depression is starting to stabilize. Historically low interest rates and a federal tax credit for first-time homeowners also helped push home sales to their highest level since November, the Commerce Department reported yesterday.

New U.S. home sales rose by the largest amount in more than eight years last month, in another sign the housing market is finally bouncing back from the worst downturn in decades.

New signals the recession could be nearing a bottom emerged yesterday in figures showing that orders to U.S. factories surged last month for everything from computers to aircraft.

New U.S. home sales fell slightly last month, in another sign that the housing market’s recovery is likely to be gradual and prolonged.