MNI DATA ANALYSIS: UK Annual House Price Growth Eases in April

--Halifax UK April House Prices -3.1% m/m; -0.1% 3m/3m; +2.2% 3my/y

     LONDON (MNI) - UK house price inflation on a monthly basis fell 3.1% in

April, with the cool down in growth slowdown coming off the back of a strong

performance in March. Year-on-year, on a rolling 3-month basis, prices rose

2.2%.

     On a quarterly basis, house prices fell 0.1% in the February-April period

relative to the November-January period according to data from Halifax, the UK's

leading mortgage provider.

"Housing demand has softened in the early months of 2018, with both mortgage

approvals and completed home sales edging down. Housing supply - as measured by

the stock of homes for sale and new instructions - is also still very low," said

Russell Galley, Managing Director, Halifax Community Bank.

     Galley predicts that growth will remain in the 0-3% range over the coming

year. 

     "The UK labour market is performing strongly with unemployment continuing

to fall and wage growth finally picking up. These factors should help to ease

pressure on household finances and as a result we expect annual price growth

will remain in our forecast range of 0-3% this year," he said.

--MNI London Bureau; +44 203-586-2226; email: jamie.satchithanantham@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: MABDS$,M$B$$$,M$E$$$]