English house prices rise as regions stumble

The figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government show annual house price increases in England were driven by a 4.9% rise in London, and increases in the South East and South West of 2.1 and 1.6% respectively.

The largest decreases in England, of 1.3%, were recorded in both the North West and in Yorkshire and Humber.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, UK house prices increased by 1.1% between March and April 2012.

Prices of new dwellings rose by 5.1% during the 12 months to April 2012 while the price of pre-owned dwellings increased by 1.1% in the same period.

In April 2012 prices paid by first-time buyers were 1.5% higher on average than in April 2011 while for existing owners prices increased by 1.4% for the same period.

In March 2012 some 43% of houses were bought by first-time buyers – ahead of the end of the stamp duty holiday.

This fell to 32% in April back in line with the longer term average.