By David Milliken
LONDON, May 1 (Reuters) - British house prices unexpectedly rose for a fourth month in a row in April, despite headwinds to consumer confidence from conflict in the Middle East, mortgage lender Nationwide Building Society said on Friday.
House prices rose 0.4% in April after a 0.9% increase in March, in contrast to economists' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 0.3% drop. Prices were 3.0% higher than a year earlier, faster than the expected 2.2% growth.
"Despite the uncertainty caused
by developments in the Middle East and the subsequent rise in energy prices, the UK housing market has continued to regain momentum following the slowdown recorded around the turn of the year," Nationwide chief economist Robert Gardner said.
"This is somewhat surprising given that indicators of consumer confidence have weakened noticeably," he added.
Financing costs driving British mortgage rates have risen since the start of the Iran war to their highest since late 2024 and consumer sentiment has fallen to its lowest since 2023, according to GfK's long-running survey.
Property surveyors reported weaker buyer demand in March and the broadest decline in house prices since January 2024.
Gardner said demand for now appeared to be supported by strong household finances - debt levels are the lowest relative to income in around 20 years - and by household income growth having outpaced house prices in recent years.
Rival mortgage lender Halifax had reported a 0.5% fall in house prices in March.
(Reporting by David Milliken; editing by William James and Paul Sandle)
