Nationwide is reporting that annual house price growth hit an 18-month high in February.

Nationwide said average property prices rose 2.3% annually in February to £216,092.

This was the highest rate of annual inflation since July 2018.

Separately, the number of sales lodged at the Land Registry climbed 14.1% between December and January.

The Land Registry received 89,874 sales registrations during January, up from 78,725 the month before, although down 3.1% annually.

The Land Registry said 20,517 of the sales registered took place in January itself.

Of these, 440 were for residential properties in England and Wales for more than £1m.

The most expensive residential property sold was in Barnet for £23.5m while the cheapest sold in Burnley for £18,000.

https://www.nationwide.co.uk/-/media/MainSite/documents/about/house-price-index/2020/Feb_2020.pd