U.S. Home Prices Rise for First Time in Three Years (Courtney Schlisserman)

July 28 (Bloomberg) -- Home prices posted their first monthly gain in three years in May, a gauge of values in 20 major U.S. cities showed, reinforcing signs of stabilization in a market hammered by the worst slump since the 1930s.

The S&P/Case-Shiller home-price index rose 0.5 percent from April, the first monthly gain since July 2006 and biggest since May of that year, the group said today in New York. The measure was down 17.1 percent from May 2008, less than forecast and the smallest year-over-year drop in nine months.

Price declines may keep moderating as demand steadies and distressed properties account for a smaller share of transactions. Even so, rising unemployment, stagnant confidence and the loss of wealth caused in part by the drop in property values mean a rebound may be slow to take hold.

“After three years of this nasty housing recession, I think we’ve got to be pleased with such an improvement in a relatively short period,” said Harm Bandholz, U.S. economist at UniCredit Research in New York.

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