Economic reports Tuesday show U.S. housing prices going up, and consumer confidence falling.

The S & P / Case-Shiller home price index showed a gain in April, the first monthly increase in nine months.

While prices were better than the prior month, they remain below the same period a year ago.

Severe problems in the U.S. housing market helped spark the economic crisis, and continue to slow the recovery.

The troubled housing market is one reason that U.S. consumers are growing more pessimistic.

U.S. consumer confidence declined in June, hitting the lowest level since last November.

Economists track consumer confidence for hints about the consumer spending that drives most U.S. economic activity.