Halifax figures show the average house price is now £283,615 — just one per cent less than in 2022 despite high interest rates.

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Kim Kinnaird, director of Halifax mortgages, said: “Higher interest rates, and the resulting squeeze on affordability, gave many potential home buyers pause for thought when considering making a move over the last year.”

“But with the combination of cost-of-living pressures and interest rate levels that are still much higher than even two years ago, we will likely see continued mild downward pressure on house prices.

“Our latest forecast suggests a fall of between two and four per cent in the next year.”

Even with that drop, house prices will still be up significantly on their pre-pandemic levels.

House prices boomed as lockdowns lifted amid a rush of people wanting to move out of cities and buy bigger homes and gardens.

But high interest rates have now pushed up mortgage costs, making it harder for buyers to get an affordable home loan.

And mortgage approvals fell by a quarter this year — the lowest level in a decade, according to Halifax.

GOOD WEEK

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TIM Sweeney, boss of Fortnite maker Epic Games, who defeated Google in a David v Goliath legal battle.

BAD WEEK

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EX-CEO of BP, Bernard Looney, who forfeited £32million after the board found him guilty of serious misconduct.

H&M HIT HEAT

H&M sales have slumped by 4 per cent in recent months as a slowdown in consumer spending hit the fashion retailer.

It blamed unseasonably warm seasonal weather for hurting demand for its autumn and winter ranges.

But its rival Zara still got out a sales rise in the same period.

PEARSON FEAR

THE London Stock Exchange faces a fresh blow as the biggest investor in Pearson said that it wants it to shift to New York.

Cevian Capital said moving the education firm to an US listing would “increase the value”.

London has already been hit by an exodus of firms to the US.