HOUSE PRICES in Britain rose for a sixth consecutive month in December, increasingly by 1 per cent to bring their total rise since April’s low to 9.4 per cent, mortgage lender Halifax said .

December’s rise followed a revised 1.3 per cent gain the previous month, and means the average property ended the year 5.6 per cent higher. The recovery in Britain’s housing market has surprised many commentators who predicted the double-digit falls of 2008 would be repeated.

But Halifax stuck with its forecast prices would flatline through 2010. It said the recovery had been aided by low supply, and was uncertain this would continue. – (Reuters)