Wires

Credit availability a top housing concern -Fed's Duke

NEW YORK, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The lack of credit available tohome buyers is among the biggest concerns in the still troubledU.S. housing market, a top Federal Reserve official said onFriday.

Fed Governor Elizabeth Duke highlighted credit availability,as well as the lack of a national appraisal database on housing,as concerns the U.S. central bank has.

(Reporting by Jonathan Spicer and Leah Schnurr; Editing byJames Dalgleish)

((jonathan.spicer@thomsonreuters.com)(+1 646 223 6253)(ReutersMessaging: jonathan.spicer.reuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: USA FED/DUKE