The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index of 20 major cities climbed 1 percent from July to a seasonally adjusted reading of 144.5. While prices are down 11.4 percent from August a year ago, the annual declines have slowed since February.

The index, released Tuesday, showed a widespread turnaround with prices rising month-over-month in 15 metro areas since June. San Francisco, Minneapolis and San Diego led the way.

Prices are at levels not seen since August 2003 and have fallen almost 30 percent from the peak in May 2006.