Home prices are down and exchange traded funds (ETFs) are up.

The Case-Shiller index of 20 cities in the United States fell 15.8% in May compared with a year ago, a record decline since its 2000 inception, reports J.W. Elphinstone for the Associated Press. Not one city in the index saw a price increase.

Since the index peaked in July 2006, home values have dropped off by 18.4%. While some areas posted record declines, some areas showed that the housing value drops were slowing. Las Vegas lost the most, 28.4% from year earlier.

Meanwhile, consumers seem to be getting that spring back in their step, after consumer confidence halted a six-month decline in July. We’re still nursing some wounds, though, and the news about housing prices might hurt a little, reports Burton Frierson for Reuters.

Part of the reason for the mood shift could be that oil has fallen off some in recent weeks. That’s bound to put a smile on many faces. Oil is continuing to fall today, down $3 a barrel in early trading. They’re now at their lowest level in seven weeks, reports Stevenson Jacobs for the Associated Press.

Among the ETFs trading higher today include:

• First Trust S&P REIT (FRI), down 5.2% year-to-date
• iShares Dow Jones U.S. Real Estate Index Fund (IYR), down 6.1% year-to-date
• Retail HOLDRs (RTH), down 7.9% year-to-date
• Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP), down 5.8% year-to-date

Tags | Consumer Staples, Energy, FRI, Gas, IYR, Oil, Real Estate, Retail & Consumer, RTH, XLP