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UK house prices rebound, Nationwide says | UK house prices rebound, Nationwide says |
(about 1 hour later) | |
UK house prices bounced back in June after three months of falls, according to mortgage lender Nationwide. | UK house prices bounced back in June after three months of falls, according to mortgage lender Nationwide. |
House prices rose by 1.1% during the month after falling by 0.2% in May. | House prices rose by 1.1% during the month after falling by 0.2% in May. |
But Nationwide economist Robert Gardner warned that "monthly growth rates can be volatile, even after accounting for seasonal effects". | But Nationwide economist Robert Gardner warned that "monthly growth rates can be volatile, even after accounting for seasonal effects". |
The average price of a house in the UK rose by £2,590 to £211,301. Annual house price growth edged up to 3.1% from 2.1% in May | |
Regional picture | |
London house prices rose at the slowest annual pace since 2012, by 1.2% year-on-year. | |
Mr Gardner said: "There has been a shift in regional house price trends. Price growth in the south of England has moderated, converging with the rates prevailing in the rest of the country." | Mr Gardner said: "There has been a shift in regional house price trends. Price growth in the south of England has moderated, converging with the rates prevailing in the rest of the country." |
He added that in the second quarter of the year, the gap in percentage rises between the strongest performing region - East Anglia, which saw 5% annual growth - and the weakest - the North of England, with 1% growth - was the smallest on record. | |
"Nevertheless, when viewed in levels, the price gap between regions remains extremely wide," Mr Gardner said. | "Nevertheless, when viewed in levels, the price gap between regions remains extremely wide," Mr Gardner said. |
However he also pointed out that London saw a "particularly marked slowdown, with annual price growth moderating to just 1.2% - the second slowest pace of the 13 UK regions". | However he also pointed out that London saw a "particularly marked slowdown, with annual price growth moderating to just 1.2% - the second slowest pace of the 13 UK regions". |
Commentators said that the regional shifts were significant. | |
Jonathan Hopper, managing director of Garrington Property Finders, said: "For London's house prices to be growing at the second slowest rate in the country would have been unthinkable for much of the past decade. | |
"Instead, growth is now spread much more evenly across the country, with the market fragmenting into a patchwork of smaller hotspots and coldspots." | |
Meanwhile, Nationwide said that the rising cost of living would curtail household spending which, in turn, would create a "drag" on activity in the housing market. | |
A lack of homes being built, and few properties being put up for sale, meant house prices would still rise by 2% this year, the building society forecast. | |
Where can I afford to live? |
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