WASHINGTON — The US economy is looking more resilient, thanks in part to encouraging signs for the two most expensive purchases most Americans make: cars and homes.
Cheap loans and a bounty of fuel-efficient models enticed people to buy new vehicles at a brisk pace last month. And the nation enjoyed another year-over-year surge in home prices in August.
Both trends reflect rising confidence in the economy. More families are replacing aging cars. And rising home prices are leading more would-be buyers to conclude that a home is a good investment.
Two surveys last week also reported improving consumer confidence.
The apparent progress could benefit President Obama, who faces off with Mitt Romney Wednesday in an economy-focused debate.
Despite the brightening auto and housing industries, the broader American economy is still struggling. It grew at a meager 1.3 percent annual rate in the April-June quarter. Most economists foresee little strengthening the rest of the year.
Hiring remains too sluggish to reduce unemployment, which is at 8.1 percent. The manufacturing sector is struggling to grow consistently. Workers’ pay is lagging inflation. A dismal European economy has cut demand for US exports.
And the economy remains at risk of falling off a ‘‘fiscal cliff’’ early next year. That’s when tax increases and deep spending cuts take effect unless Congress reaches a budget deal. If those measures do take effect, the economy could fall into recession.
Yet many Americans appear to be looking past the economy’s troubles. Surveys by the private Conference Board and the University of Michigan show that while consumers are anxious about current conditions, they’re more optimistic about the future.
On Tuesday, automakers reported solid increases in September. Total sales for the month are expected to exceed 1.1 million vehicles, up 11 percent from September 2011. Analysts expect sales to total about 14.3 million this year, up from 12.8 million last year.
Auto purchases have been robust in part because people are replacing cars they kept during the recession.
The steady rise in home prices may also be affecting voter perceptions of the economy. The price increases coincide with higher sales fueled by record-low mortgage rates. The gains could embolden people who had been spooked by their shrunken home values or wary of selling or investing in a home.
A gauge of prices calculated by CoreLogic, a private data provider, jumped 4.6 percent in August compared with August 2011. It was the sharpest year-over-year gain in more than six years.