House price inflation lowest in four years says Halifax

Annual house price growth also fell below annual average earnings growth for the first time since 2001. The lender says earnings are expected to continue to outpace house prices during the second half of 2005. And it says it expects the earnings ratio to decline from its current level of 5.5 possibly easing the affordability difficulties faced by first time buyers The biggest house price rises occurring in the second quarter of 2005 were in Wales, which saw growth of 4.3%, and Northern Ireland (3.9%). There were house price falls in some English regions such as East Anglia (-1.6%), the S...