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WASHINGTON U.S. home prices fell in most major cities for the
second straight month, further evidence that the housing recovery will be bumpy
and weigh on the broader economy in 2012.The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller index
released Tuesday showed prices dropped in October from September in 19 of
the 20 cities tracked.Prices in a majority of cities declined for the
second straight month, reflecting the typically fall slowdown after the peak buying
season. Prior to that, prices had risen for five consecutive months in
at least half of the cities tracked.Home prices are softening despite some
modest progress in the depressed housing market.Residential construction is likely to add
to U.S. economic growth in 2011, the first time that has happened
in four years. Still, that's mainly because apartments are being built almost
twice as fast as two years ago reflecting a surge
in renting and weaker home sales.The Case-Shiller index covers half of all
U.S. homes. It
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