David Blitzer

Home prices in 20 major U.S. cities rose a better-than-expected 1% in June from May, according to the Case-Shiller index. But the home buyer tax credit probably helped lift June's data, while home sales in July have tumbled.

U.S. home prices dipped again in March, Case-Shiller said, providing further evidence that although conditions have improved from a year ago, the housing sector is still a long way from being healthy.