WASHINGTON - March 29, 2011 - U.S. single family home prices fell for the seventh straight month in January, fresh evidence that the housing market remains in Depression, according to a survey released today.

The S&P/Case-Shiller composite index of 20 metropolitan areas declined 0.2% in January from December on a seasonally adjusted basis, where a Reuters poll of economists had forecast a drop of 0.4%. Prices in the 20 cities have fallen 3.1% year-over-year compared to the 3.2% drop that was expected.