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HELENA- Economic forecasters say the housing market will be the last sector of the economy to improve in Montana.

The University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research reports there are still too many foreclosures.

Forecaster Patrick Barkey says the high inventory of houses for sale is putting downward pressure on prices.

Meanwhile, MSU-Billings reports in 2011 in Lewis and Clark County it took on average 141 days to sell a home, in Cascade County it took 113 days.

"Housing is still sick, it's getting a little bit better but it's still very much a problem for the Montana economy. Unlike previous recessions where you would see a surge in home building that would help pull the economy out and help the economy get to a faster gear it's gonna be the other way around," Barkey explained.

Barkey predicts there won't be meaningful improvement in housing construction until 2013.