House prices showing spring spurt

House prices rose in parts of England in April

House prices have risen in April, according to Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) statistics.

Between March and April, the average house price in the UK rose from £186,519 to £188,290, the DCLG said.

As a result, the annual rate of price increase stood at 5.1% in April, up from 3.3% the previous month.

Northern Ireland, Yorkshire, the North-East of England and the key London market all saw substantial price increases, the DCLG said.

Overall, house price inflation rose in all of the English regions and Wales, but fell back a little in Scotland.

Results mirrored

The DCLG housing market survey is considered authoritative because it is based on data from completed house sales.

The DCLG's findings for April mirror those of other housing market surveys.

The Halifax bank noted a dramatic pick-up in the UK housing market during the first few months of 2006.

However, the most recent surveys from the Halifax and Nationwide have both suggested that the market came off the boil during May.

But according to Milan Khatri, chief economist at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the medium term outlook is for steady price growth.

"Despite a fall in the number of mortgage approvals in April, which are viewed as a forward indicator of housing demand, activity remains above the historical average and still point to firm demand conditions," Mr Khatri said.

The DCLG survey was formerly know as the ODPM house price survey, as it was produced by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Following a recent cabinet reshuffle and reorganisation, the newly-formed DCLG is now compiling the data.