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Nationwide: UK House Prices Rise in April Amid Middle East Uncertainty

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House prices in the UK unexpectedly rose at a faster pace in April, signaling renewed momentum after a slowdown at the turn of 2026 and despite the geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty arising from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Annual house price growth climbed to 3% in April from 2.2% in March, data from Nationwide Building Society showed Friday. The latest figure exceeded the consensus estimate of a 2.2% increase.

Month over month, house prices were 0.4% higher on a seasonally adjusted basis, marking an increase for the fourth consecutive month and bucking the expected 0.3% decline. The average UK house price is now worth 278,880 pounds sterling in April, up from 277,186 pounds a month before.

"This is somewhat surprising given that indicators of consumer confidence have weakened noticeably. GfK's headline index has fallen to its lowest level since late 2023, reflecting households' more pessimistic views of the economic outlook and their own financial position over the year ahead," Nationwide's Chief Economist Robert Gardner said.

Nationwide attributed the housing market resilience to the strength of household finances, noting that households accumulated "sizeable" savings in recent years and that debt relative to income is at its lowest level in 20 years. Nationwide said the market is also supported by improved housing affordability, which has seen limited impact thus far from higher interest rates, and a "modest" decline in mortgage rates.

"Looking ahead, UK economic growth is likely to be somewhat weaker and inflation higher than previously expected as a result of developments in the Middle East, although the ultimate impact will depend critically on the duration of the shock and the policy response," Gardner added.

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