UK house prices fall again in January on a monthly basis according to Halifax
The latest Halifax House Price Index report – January 2018 released today headlines ‘Annual House Price Growth Slows To 2.2%’
The report states: Prices in the last three months to January were 2.2% higher than in the same three months a year earlier, although the annual change in January was lower than in December (2.7%).
On a monthly basis, prices fell for the second consecutive month in January (by 0.6% following a 0.8% decrease in December) according to Halifax.
Russell Galley, Managing Director, Halifax Community Bank, said:
“Annual house price rises have slowed from 2.7% in December to 2.2% in January – the lowest rate since July last year. We’ve seen a monthly decline as well as the quarterly rate of growth flattening out.
“Although employment levels grew by 102,000 in the three months to November, household finances are still under pressure as consumer prices continue to grow faster than wages. Additionally, it’s still too early to see any impact for first-time buyers from the abolition of stamp duty on purchases of up to £300,000, which was announced in the November Budget.
“Despite the recent rise in the Bank of England Base Rate, mortgage rates are still very low. This, combined with an ongoing acute shortage of properties for sale, will continue to underpin house prices over the coming months.”
Read the Halifax House Price Index report – January 2018 in full click here.