Chicago area housing prices out-stripping inflation - by far

The move-up market, lower interest rates and a favorableeconomic climate are boosting housing prices far faster than theover-all inflation rate.

The increases throughout the Chicago area the past year havebeen higher than the national average, reported Paul Jacobson,executive vice president of Coldwell Banker Real Estate/Chicago.

On average, Chicago area prices in September were up by 15percent for new houses and by 12 percent for existing houses, fromSeptember, 1985, a Coldwell Banker survey shows.

Nationwide, prices increased by 12 percent for new housing andby 8 percent for existing housing.

In September, inflation was increasing at an annual …