There are hopeful signs for housing, critical to the health of the broader economy.Years of falling prices have made houses intriguingly affordable, especially relative to rising rents.

• 对总体经济状况至关重要的房地产业出现了一些给人希望的信号，即在经过了多年的降价后，房价已经到了人们能够承担的具有吸引力的水平，尤其是相对于不断上升的租金而言。