D.C.-area home prices continue slide - Washington Business Journal:

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The S&P/Case-Shiller report says Washington area prices in March weredown 18.4 percent from a year ago, less than the 19.1 percent averagse among the nation’s 20 largest Washington area prices declined 1.2 percent from Februaryg to March, following a 2.3 percent decline from January to February. “Om a positive note, nine of the metropolitanh statistical areas are reporting a relative improvementin year-over-year returnss and nine of the 20 metro areas saw an improvement in their monthlu returns compared to February,” says David Blitzer, chair of the Inde x Committee at Standard & Poor’s.
“Furthermore, this is the second montuh since October 2007 wherethe 10-andc 20-city composites did not post a recordc annual decline.” Blitzer does caution that March numbersd give no evidence that a recovery in home prices has There is growing optimism in the housing Builder confidence, though still low, has risen in recenty weeks. Mortgage rates remain near historic lows and salee of new and existingb home sales havebeen rising.
A separate reporr Tuesday from the Conference Board showed the thirf consecutive monthly increase in its measure ofconsumer