House prices rise, but rate of growth is slowing
The latest figures from Assetz House Price Watch show that house prices were 4.7% higher in January than at the same time in 2009. Assetz House Price Watch compiles monthly average figures taken from all of the major house price indices to offer a more accurate picture of house price trends.
The average UK house price, ascertained from the five major UK indices, was £194,168 in January. This is a £8,669 increase on figures for January 2009 and represents 4.7% growth year-on-year. Average house prices are currently at the highest level since October 2008 (£194,735).
The latest figures also eliminate the slight fall in the average house price in December and suggest continued growth in 2010.House prices are now less than 10 per cent (9.73%) below the peak house price of £215,089 recorded in October 2007.
The annualised growth figures reveal that while the UK continues to see positive growth, the rate of growth continues to slow. The three month rolling average data shows a current annualised growth rate of 2.28% compared to 4.29% last month. The six month rolling average data shows 5.94% annualised growth rate in January, down from 7.79% in December and a high of 11.93% in October 2009.
Stuart Law, Chief Executive of Assetz, comments:
“The latest Assetz House Price Watch shows that the monthly rate of house price growth slowed over Christmas but is now rising again. However, the six month average is a more reliable indication of trends and suggests that while growth continues, it has slowed from its historic high of almost 12 per cent in October to a more sustainable level.
“I would expect the annual rise in February to be around 5%, up on January’s figure of 4.7% and predict overall modest growth of 5% by the end of the year. Rightmove, a leading indicator of asking prices, witnessed monthly house price growth of 3.2% in February as sellers increased asking prices due to the reduced levels of stock on the market. This rate of growth - which translates as 46% annualised growth – is wholly unsustainable. However, as a result of increased asking prices, we would expect an increase in the agreed price that appears in the Nationwide and Halifax indices next month.”