A lot can change in a month – just look at the impending Trump presidency in America – but according to the Office for National Statistics, average house prices haven’t budged, although there are regional variations.

Its latest house price index shows that average annual house price growth in the UK remained at 7.7% for September at £218,000.

The east of England is the region which showed the highest annual growth, with prices rising by 12.1% to £277,000.

Growth in London was second highest at £488,000, up 10.9%, followed by the south-east with prices growing 9.9% to £313,000.

The lowest annual growth was in the north-east, where prices increased by just 1.5% over the year and stand at £125,000.

Rob Weaver, director of investments at property crowdfunding platform Property Partner, said: “With historically low interest rates, savers are feeling the pinch.

“Property is rising considerably more than inflation, particularly in the south of England, and therefore proving to be one of the best ways of preserving and building wealth.

“The structural mismatch between supply and demand has helped support prices. And a dramatic drop off in the number of homes sold in England in the year to July shows a severe lack of available stock.

“But fears that the Government won’t hit its 2020 target of building 1m new homes will only intensify the problem. Next week’s Autumn Statement will be listened to very carefully. The Stamp Duty changes have been a tax on mobility and a disincentive to build. Watch this space.”

* Home.co.uk’s October Asking Price Index shows asking prices froze over the month at £297,803, up 3.8% annually. This is down from annual house price inflation of 4.4% in September. Average time on the market increased from 158 to 160 days.