Home prices gain for 10th month in row-

The S&P/Case Shiller composite index of 20 metropolitan areas gained 0.6 percent in November on a seasonally adjusted basis, in line with economists' forecasts. 

Prices on a non-adjusted basis slipped 0.1 percent. The non-adjusted numbers showed prices fell in about half of the cities covered by the survey, with the winter months typically a weak period for housing, the survey said. 

"Housing is clearly recovering", David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indexes, said in a statement. 

Prices in the 20 cities rose 5.5 percent year over year. 

It was the 10th month in a row that prices have increased, the longest string of gains since before the market started to turn down in 2006. 

The housing market became a bright spot for the economy last year as prices rose and inventory tightened. The sector is expected to contribute to economic growth in 2013. 

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.