
US home prices slow to lowest gain in two years

United States home sales have gained the least in over two years, slowing down for a seventh straight month in August. The National Index was up just 1.5% year-over-year, marking the weakest annual gain in two years and falling below the 3% inflation rate, according to the latest S&P Cotality Case-Shiller home price index. “For the fourth straight month, home values have lost ground to inflation, meaning homeowners are seeing their real wealth decline even as nominal prices inch higher,” Head of Fixed Income Tradables & Commodities at S&P Dow Jones Indices Nicholas Godec said. "The National Index rose 1.5% over the past year, with most of that gain coming in the recent six months (up 1.5%) while the prior six months were essentially flat. The highest metro gains were in New York with a 6.1% gain, followed by Chicago and Cleveland, which recorded gains of 5.9% and 4.7% respectively. On the other end of the spectrum, the largest declines were in Tampa, which fell 3.3% and Phoenix and Miami, which both dropped by 1.7%. Mortgage rates still remain over 6.5% and continue to weigh on buyer demand even during what should be a busy summer season. Godec said the market is finding a “new equilibrium” after the pandemic







