(Alliance News) - UK house prices faced downward pressure in April and the twelve month outlook weakened, an industry association reported Thursday.
The latest UK residential market survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors suggests there was continued downward pressure on UK house prices in April.
The net balance for house prices, which represents the proportion of survey respondents reporting an increase in prices minus those reporting a fall, declined to minus 34% in April and further deteriorated from a minus 25% reading in March, which was downwardly revised from minus 23% initially.
A reading of minus 25% was expected for April according to the FXStreet-cited consensus forecast.
Additionally, a net balance of minus 36% was recorded for agreed sales, versus minus 35% in March, revised down from minus 34% initially.
"Survey results continue to reflect a challenging global macroeconomic backdrop, with the associated rise in interest rate expectations weighing on buyer demand," the Rics report said. "Moreover, near-term sentiment indicators suggest that these subdued conditions are set to persist over the coming months, while the outlook for the year ahead has softened noticeably."
Near term sales expectations recorded a net balance of minus 32%, improving slightly from minus 33% a month earlier.
However, looking ahead to the twelve-month horizon, the net balance for sales expectations was at minus 6% in April, worsening from minus 1% in March.
"Regional results point to a growing divergence between the North and South, with more pronounced downward pressure on prices evident in London, the South East, East Anglia and the South West.
"By contrast, the North West and the North of England continue to post marginally positive readings for the time being. Meanwhile, house prices are still rising across Scotland and Northern Ireland," Rics said.
The monthly Rics sentiment survey of chartered surveyors operating in the residential sales and lettings market covered 415 branches and 205 responses.
By Elijah Dale, Alliance News senior reporter Asia-Pacific
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