National Home Price Index Sets 30-Month Annual Return High

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index reported an annual gain of 5.8 percent in December, up from 5.6 percent in November, and set a 30-month high, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices.

The 10-City Composite posted a 4.9 percent increase in December, up from a 4.4 percent increase in November. The 20-City Composite reported a gain of 5.6 percent, up from the November gain of 5.2 percent.

Seattle, Portland and Denver had the highest annual gains in December with 10.8 percent, 10.0 percent and 8.9 percent increases, respectively.

The National Index posted a month-to-month gain of 0.7 percent in December, down from 0.8 percent in November. The 10-City and 20-City were both unchanged from November with 0.9 percent gains.

“Home prices continue to advance, with the national average rising faster than at any time in the last two-and-a-half years,” said David M. Blitzer, managing director and chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices, in a statement.