-- The FHFA's measure of home prices held steady in February after an upwardly revised 0.2% increase in the previous month, below the 0.1% gain expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg as of 7:30 am ET.
Prices were up 1.7% from a year earlier in February.
Sale prices were up in four of the nine regions from the previous month, down in four other regions and unchanged in the East North Central region.
The monthly home price index report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency measures single-family home prices across the US with a two-month lag, broken down by region. The FHFA reports percentage gains both from the previous month and a year earlier.
Higher home prices are inflationary and a negative for bonds. The outcome for housing-related stocks is mixed, as higher prices suggest strong demand, but prices that are accelerating too fast can also deter potential buyers.