The Nationwide Building Society has reported a “surprising” increase in the annual rate of house price growth in January, as it rose to 3.2%, up from 2.6% at the end of 2017.
House prices increased by 0.6% over the month, after taking account of seasonal factors, the same increase as December.
Robert Gardner, the Nationwide’s chief economist, said: “The acceleration in annual house price growth is a little surprising, given signs of softening in the household sector in recent months. Retail sales were relatively soft over the Christmas period, as were key measures of consumer confidence, as the squeeze on household incomes continued to take its toll.
“Similarly, mortgage approvals declined to their weakest level for three years in December, at just 61,000. Activity around the year end can often be volatile, but the weak reading comes off the back of subdued activity in October and November (monthly approvals were around 65,000 per month compared to an average of 67,000 over the previous 12 months). There are few signs of an imminent pickup, as surveyors report that new buyer enquiries have remained soft in recent months.
“But activity has been subdued on both the demand and supply side of the market. The flow of properties coming onto estate agents’ books has been more of trickle than a torrent for some time now and the lack of supply is likely to be the key factor providing support to house prices.
“How the housing market performs in the year ahead will be determined in large part by developments in the wider economy. Brexit developments will remain important, though these remain hard to foresee.
“We continue to expect the UK economy to grow at modest pace, with annual growth of 1% to 1.5% in 2018 and 2019. Subdued economic activity and the ongoing squeeze on household budgets is likely to exert a modest drag on housing market activity and house price growth.
“Nevertheless, housing market activity is expected to slow only modestly, since unemployment and mortgage interest rates are expected to remain low by historic standards. Similarly, the subdued pace of building activity evident in recent years and the shortage of properties on the market are likely to provide ongoing support for house prices.”
Jonathan Samuels, CEO of Octane Capital, added: “The rebound in annual price growth is less about demand strength than supply weakness. Against a backdrop of squeezed incomes and Brexit-related uncertainty, demand is understandably subdued, but prices are being supported by the sheer lack of homes for sale and the low cost of borrowing.
“With so many economic and political unknowns on the horizon, 2018 looks set to deliver a year of low single digit growth. Many households are likely to sit tight for another year, or at least until there is more clarity on the outcome of Brexit negotiations.
“The fall in homeownership among 35-44 year olds underlines the depth of the affordability crisis. For anyone born on this side of the seventies, getting onto the property ladder can prove a major struggle.”