Nationwide's HPI for August sees 0.3% rise

Nationwide's house price index has recorded a 0.3% rise in August, bringing their annual growth rate down from 3.5% to 3.2%.

According to the bank, the average UK property price is £195,279.

Chief economist at Nationwide, Robert Gardner commented on the latest set of data -

‘This month’s data provides further evidence that annual house price growth may be stabilising close to the pace of earnings growth, which has historically been around 4%,’

‘However, survey evidence cautions that this trend may not be maintained unless construction activity accelerates. Surveyors reported the lowest ever number of properties on their books in July whilst new buyer enquiries picked up,’ .

‘Clearly house price trends are determined by a wide range of factors, but labour market developments are amongst the most important. The strength of the UK labour market in recent years is a key reason why house prices have recovered more quickly,’

‘There is a strong correlation between employment and house price growth since the financial crisis across the major developed economies. House prices remain further below their pre-crisis peaks in countries where employment is also well below pre-crisis levels,’

‘Supply side developments also play an important role in explaining the divergence in house price performance. The UK experienced a much smaller increase in building activity in the run up to the financial crisis. As a result, there was much less of an overhang of unsold properties to be worked off in recent years,’

‘However, with UK house building running well below the expected rate of household formation in recent years and with demand for homes rising, a significant increase in construction activity is required if affordability is not to become stretched in the years ahead,’

View the Nationwides House Price Data for August 2015

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