WASHINGTON - Sales of new homes posted another large gain in April as buyers rushed to sign contracts before government tax credits expired.

The Commerce Department says sales of new single-family homes jumped 14.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 504,000 units. April's gain followed a 29.8 percent surge in March, the biggest monthly increase in 47 years.

Activity in both months was pushed higher by a stampede of buyers trying to sign sales contracts before tax credits expired on April 30. The concern, however, is that sales will slump in coming months given all the problems still facing households.

A separate report from Commerce showed orders for large manufactured goods rose sharply last month.

Demand for commercial aircraft lifted requests for durable goods 2.9 percent last month. That was the best showing in three months and more than double expectations.

Excluding transportation, orders fell 1 percent in April, but that came after March's figures were revised to show a 4.8 percent jump.

A durable good is a product that is expected to last at least three years.

Manufacturing has held steady during the recovery. U.S. companies are benefiting from rising demand at home and in major export markets.

The big jump in home sales did not boost home values. The median sales price fell to $198,400 in April, 9.6 percent below March's median price for a new home. The median is the midpoint where half the homes sold for more and half for less.

The two months of big sales increases pushed sales activity to the highest level since May 2008, but sales remained well below the peaks of the housing boom.