Home Prices Probably Fell, Confidence Up: U.S. Economy Preview

Home prices probably dropped in October, a sign housing will remain a weak link as the U.S. recovery accelerates into the new year, economists said before reports this week.

Property values in 20 cities were down 0.2 percent from October 2009, the first year-over-year decline since January, according to the median forecast of 14 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News ahead of a report from S&P/Case-Shiller in two days. Other data the same day may show consumer confidence rose to a seven-month high in December.