Local and national home prices rose in August, marking the third consecutive month of increases and adding to building signs of stabilization, according to S&P/Case-Shiller's U.S. National Home Price Index released Tuesday.

Prices in the Tampa metro area rose 0.4 percent from July to August. That's after increases of 1.4 percent and 0.4 percent the previous two months.
Tampa area prices are down 17.7 percent compared with the same month last year.

Nationally, prices were down 11.4 percent from August a year ago, but the annual declines have slowed since February.

The index showed a widespread turnaround, with prices rising month-over-month in 15 of the 20 metro areas tracked.