Halifax 9.375bd Regulatory News (HALP)

5 Dec 2007 08:00

HBOS PLC05 December 2007 Halifax House Price Index National Index November 2007 All Houses, All Buyers Index (1983=100) Index (seasonally adjusted) 630.8 Monthly Change -1.1% Annual Change 6.3% Standardised Average Price (seasonally adjusted) £194,895 Key Points • House prices fell by 1.1% in November. In annual terms, house prices are 6.3% higher. • A mixed pattern of monthly price rises and falls is a typical feature of a more subdued housing market. For example, there were six monthly falls and six monthly increases between July 2004 and June 2005 as the market slowed in response to a series of interest rate rises during 2004. • The housing market has slowed in recent months as the increase in interest rates between July 2006 and July 2007 has taken effect. Higher mortgage repayments and falling real earnings have put pressure on households' income, resulting in a slowdown in both house price growth and activity. • A robust UK economy and the accompanying sound health of the labour market provide strong underpinnings for the housing market. Gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 0.7% between 2007 Q2 and 2007 Q3, the eighth consecutive quarterly increase above the long-term average rate of 0.6%. • The economy has now grown for 61 successive quarters. This represents the UK's longest running period of unbroken GDP growth on record; a performance that no other developed nation can match. Again, this provides the housing market with a very solid foundation. • The number of people in employment increased by 69,000 between 2007 Q2 and 2007 Q3. Employment in 2007 Q3 was 178,000 higher than in 2006 Q3, at 29.22 million. Employment levels are at a record high. • Market activity is lower. Mortgage approvals to fund house purchase fell by 12% in November to 88,000 (seasonally adjusted). Approvals in November were 32% lower than a year earlier. New buyer interest in purchasing a house fell for the eleventh successive month in November. Commenting, Martin Ellis, chief economist, said: "House prices fell by 1.1 per cent in November. In annual terms, house pricesare 6.3% higher. The housing market has slowed in recent months as the increase in interest ratesbetween July 2006 and July 2007 has taken effect. Higher mortgage repaymentsand falling real earnings have put pressure on households' income, resulting ina slowdown in both house price growth and activity. The UK economy is in sound shape. Strong market fundamentals, a structuralhousing supply shortage and pent-up demand from a large number of potentialfirst-time buyers will support house prices, preventing a sustained andsignificant fall." A mixed pattern of monthly price rises and falls is a typical feature of a moresubdued housing market. For example, there were six monthly falls and six monthly increases between July2004 and June 2005 as the market slowed in response to a series of interest raterises during 2004. It is not unusual to see successive monthly falls in thesecircumstances. A robust UK economy and the accompanying sound health of the labour marketprovide strong underpinnings for the housing market. Gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 0.7% between 2007 Q2 and 2007 Q3.This was the eighth consecutive quarterly increase above the long-term averagerate of 0.6%, underlining the strength of the UK economy. The economy has nowgrown for 61 successive quarters. This represents the UK's longest runningperiod of unbroken GDP growth on record; a performance that no other developednation can match. (Source: ONS) The number of people in employment increased by 69,000 between 2007 Q2 and 2007Q3. Employment in 2007 Q3 was 178,000 higher than in 2006 Q3, at 29.22 million.(Source: ONS) Supply shortages will also support house prices. The ongoing inability of the rate of housebuilding to match the pace of newhousehold formation will also support house prices. Annual rate of house price growth at 6.3%. As expected, the annual rate of house price inflation has fallen in recentmonths as the strong monthly house price gains during the autumn of 2006 havedropped out of the year-on-year comparisons. The annual rate eased to 6.3% inNovember from 8.9% in October. Market activity is lower Mortgage approvals to fund house purchase fell by 12% in November to 88,000(seasonally adjusted). Approvals in November were 32% lower than a yearearlier. (Source: Bank of England) Completed property sales are down 15% on an annual basis and new buyer interestin purchasing a house fell for the eleventh successive month in November.(Source: RICS) This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange