The drop in US home prices probably abated and consumer confidence climbed, putting the biggest part of the economy further along the path to recovery, economists said before reports today.

Property values in 20 metropolitan areas probably fell 5% in November from a year earlier, the smallest 12-month drop in two years, according to the median forecast of 27 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. Sentiment improved in January for a third month, another report may show.

bloomberg.com