7 Feb

UK house prices rose 0.6% in January, Halifax says

UK house prices increased by 0.6% in January, according to the latest survey from the Halifax.

The change means that the average cost of a house was £160,907 last month, the bank said.

House prices are 1.8% lower than a year ago, according to the Halifax's measure.

The bank said prospects for the housing market over the coming months depended on whether the debit crisis in the eurozone would affect the UK economy.

"If the UK can avoid a prolonged recession, we expect broad stability in house prices in 2012", said Martin Ellis, Halifax's housing economist.

House prices in the three months to January fell by 0.9% when compared with the previous three months.  This three-month on three-month comparison is often thought to be a better measure of underlying conditions in the market.

Last week, the latest survey from the Nationwide building society found that prices fell by 0.2% in January, with the average home valued at £162,228.

Source: bbc.co.uk/news/business-16903022