UK house price growth eases on "affordability pressures" — Nationwide

(Alliance News) - UK house price growth slowed last month, numbers from Nationwide showed ...

Alliance News 1 May, 2024 | 7:27AM
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(Alliance News) - UK house price growth slowed last month, numbers from Nationwide showed Wednesday, as longer-term interest rates picked up.

UK house prices rose 0.6% on-year in April, easing from a 1.6% surge in March.

On a monthly basis, they fell 0.4%. They had declined 0.2% in March from February.

"UK house prices fell by 0.4% in April, after taking account of seasonal effects. This resulted in a slowing in the annual rate of house price growth to 0.6% in April, from 1.6% the previous month," Nationwide analyst Robert Gardner said.

"The slowdown likely reflects ongoing affordability pressures, with longer term interest rates rising in recent months, reversing the steep fall seen around the turn of the year. House prices are now around 4% below the all-time highs recorded in the summer of 2022, after taking account of seasonal effects."

Nationwide noted research, carried out by data firm Censuswide on its behalf, found just under half of prospective first-time buyers have delayed their property plans over the past year.

Nationwide added: "Among this group, the most commonly cited reason for delaying their purchase is that house prices are too high (53%), but it is also notable that 41% said that higher mortgage costs were preventing them from buying."

By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor

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