Higher prices show the housing market is improving even as it moves into the fall and winter, when sales traditionally slow. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller national index measuring prices in 20 cities rose 4.3 percent in October, up from a 3 percent annual gain in September.
Prices rose in October from a year ago in 18 of 20 cities. Monthly prices are not seasonally adjusted, so the decreases reflect the end of the peak buying season.
Chicago and New York were the only 2 cities that were tested that showed a decline in housing prices.
