Housing slump hits stronger markets

Places that had managed to resist the nation’s housing slump — The Pacific Northwest, North Carolina and even New York City — are starting to show their vulnerability. Inventory at year-end in greater Seattle was 4.9 months, up from a very lean 2.7 months a year ealirer; in Portland, Ore., inventory was 5.7 months, up from 3.7 months a year earlier; and in Charlotte, N.C., inventory increased to 7.8 months from 5.9 months. In Long Island and Queens, inventory would last 18 months at the current sales rate, up from a 12-month supply a year before.