UK house prices dipped in December, says Halifax

Decline is first for nine months although prices still 3.3% above last year

Topics

Services index shows big jump in prices for December as companies fear tariffs

The ISM services survey's prices index jumped to 64.4%, an increase of 6.2 points or more than 10%.
CNBC - 18h
Stamp duty changes will motivate first-time buyers, says Halifax

The UK's biggest mortgage lender says house prices rose 3.3% during the course of 2024.
BBC News - 19h
UK firms plan price rises as business confidence falls to lowest level since 2022 ‘mini-budget', survey finds

Firms across hospitality, manufacturing, construction and healthcare expressed concerns about how they would cover additional tax costs.
CNBC - 2d
UK businesses plan price increases as Budget drives up costs

Tax and wage rises have caused confidence to ‘slump’, warns British Chambers of Commerce
Financial Times - 2d
Experts say high food prices are here to stay. Here's why

Some experts say there's really nothing the government can do about high food prices.
CNBC - 3d
What economists say about the UK’s outlook for 2025

Below are full responses to the FT’s annual survey about the British economy
Financial Times - 5d
House prices rose by 4.7% in 2024, says Nationwide

Housing market activity remained "remarkably resilient" despite affordability challenges, the lender says.
BBC News - 6d
UK house prices rise more than expected in December

Month-on-month increase of 0.7% takes average house price close to record high
Financial Times - 6d

What Is the U.K. ‘Grooming Gang’ Scandal Seized On by Elon Musk?

The billionaire tech mogul has been posting on his social media platform about a decade-old child sex abuse scandal in Britain. Here’s what to know.
The New York Times - 14m
‘Absolutely sickening’ for Tories to vote against child protection legislation, education secretary says – UK politics live

Bridget Phillipson says Tory approach to bill will ‘kill it stone dead’ after PM says opposition more interested in retweets than safeguarding. Sir Andrew Dilnot , the economist who drew up a plan ...
The Guardian - 17m
Met to face inquiry over handling of Mohamed Al Fayed allegations

Internal inquiry, overseen by IOPC, will seek to establish if there were ‘any missed opportunities or failures’. The police watchdog is to examine new complaints from victims of Mohamed Al Fayed ...
The Guardian - 23m
Mark Zuckerberg has gone full Maga | Siva Vaidhyanathan

It’s also a mistake to describe the Meta CEO’s move as a retreat from ‘fact-checking’: it’s a retreat from limiting harm to users. Mark Zuckerberg seems to have gone full Maga. Just two weeks ...
The Guardian - 23m
FirstFT: California declares state of emergency as wildfires rage

Also in today’s newsletter, Facebook ends third-party fact-checking, and analysts turn on Citi’s chief executive
Financial Times - 24m