Housing market "still strong" - Halifax

The UK's housing market showed continuous strength in August as property prices increased for the second month in a row, the latest Halifax survey reveals. House prices rose by 1.3% last month, the same rate as in July. Prices have increased at an average monthly rate of 1.1% over the past three months - ahead of the 0.6% monthly average experienced during the past 20 years - the average house now costs £133,908. Halifax believes that low unemployment, low interest rates and the end of the Iraqi conflict have boosted people's confidenc. Its chief economist, Martin Elli...