Trulia’s Price Monitor is the earliest leading indicator of where asking prices are headed on both a national and local basis. The Monitor can detect price trends at least three months in advance of the major sales-price indexes. According to the most recent release, asking prices were up 11.4 percent in January as compared to one year earlier. In fact, of the 100 largest metropolitan areas, 97 saw asking-price increases from January 2013. Prices were also up on a quarterly and monthly basis. The results show a 1.1 percent price increase from December, which is the strongest one-month gain since June 2013. There was also a 2.1 percent improvement in prices on a quarterly basis. However, quarterly increases remain below spring 2013’s rate, when prices accelerated at the fastest pace since the housing crash. Overall, home prices have risen most in the areas that experienced the largest declines during the most recent recession. More here.