UK House Price Growth Accelerates in March

2026-03-31 06:16 By Kyrie Dichosa 1 min. read

The UK Nationwide House Price Index rose 2.2% year-on-year in March 2026, picking up from 1.0% growth in February and marking the fastest increase since last October.

On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.9%, above forecasts of a 0.6% gain and accelerating from a 0.3% increase in the previous period.

Chief Economist Robert Gardner said the rebound signals improving conditions, but rising global energy prices linked to Middle East tensions pose downside risks.

He warned UK growth may slow while inflation could exceed expectations, with markets now pricing in three rate hikes over the next year versus earlier expectations for cuts, pushing up mortgage costs and weighing on affordability and demand.

Still, fundamentals remain supportive, with a resilient labor market, low household debt, strong savings, and around 90% of mortgages on fixed rates.

Regionally, growth was uneven in Q1, led by Northern Ireland (+9.5%), followed by North West England (+3.3%), while England lagged (+0.9%).



News Stream
UK House Price Growth Accelerates in March
The UK Nationwide House Price Index rose 2.2% year-on-year in March 2026, picking up from 1.0% growth in February and marking the fastest increase since last October. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.9%, above forecasts of a 0.6% gain and accelerating from a 0.3% increase in the previous period. Chief Economist Robert Gardner said the rebound signals improving conditions, but rising global energy prices linked to Middle East tensions pose downside risks. He warned UK growth may slow while inflation could exceed expectations, with markets now pricing in three rate hikes over the next year versus earlier expectations for cuts, pushing up mortgage costs and weighing on affordability and demand. Still, fundamentals remain supportive, with a resilient labor market, low household debt, strong savings, and around 90% of mortgages on fixed rates. Regionally, growth was uneven in Q1, led by Northern Ireland (+9.5%), followed by North West England (+3.3%), while England lagged (+0.9%).
2026-03-31
UK House Prices Rise Above Forecasts
The UK Nationwide House Price Index rose 1% year-on-year in February 2026, exceeding expectations of a 0.7% increase and matching January’s pace. On a monthly basis, prices went up 0.3%, in line with forecasts and the same pace as in January. Nationwide Chief Economist Robert Gardner noted this reflects a modest recovery following a dip at the end of 2025, likely linked to uncertainty over potential property tax changes ahead of the Budget. Mortgage approvals for house purchases remained close to pre-pandemic levels. Over 2025, total housing market transactions were 10% higher than in 2024, supported by improved affordability and easing credit availability. First-time buyer activity increased 18% year-on-year, home mover purchases up 15%, while buy-to-let activity edged higher but stayed subdued due to rates and regulatory headwinds. Gardner expects activity to continue recovering in coming quarters if affordability trends persist.
2026-03-02
UK House Prices Rise More Than Expected
The UK Nationwide House Price Index rose 1% year-on-year in January 2026, surpassing the expected 0.7% and picking up from a 0.6% gain in December. On a monthly basis, prices increased 0.3%, in line with expectations, following a 0.4% decline in December. Nationwide Chief Economist Robert Gardner said housing activity dipped at the end of 2025, likely due to uncertainty over potential property tax changes, but mortgage approvals remained near pre-pandemic levels. He added that affordability improved over the past year, supported by earnings growth outpacing house prices and a steady decline in mortgage rates, helping sustain buyer demand. First-time buyer activity continued to rise as a share of purchases, with many buyers benefiting from relatively low mortgage payments. Regional variations persisted: London saw the largest improvement but remained least affordable, Northern Ireland worsened, while Scotland and parts of the North remained manageable.
2026-02-02