London — British house prices unexpectedly fell in December compared with November, their first decline in six months, mortgage lender Halifax said on Monday, adding to signs of weakness in the country’s housing market since the 2016 Brexit vote. House prices slipped by 0.6% month-on-month after a 0.3% rise in November, Halifax said. Economists taking part in a Reuters poll had expected prices to rise by 0.2%. On an annual basis, house price growth slowed to an annual 2.7% in the three months to December, weaker than a rise of 3.9% in November. The Reuters poll of economists had pointed to a 3.3% rise. Shortly before the referendum decision to leave the European Union in June 2016, Halifax was reporting annual gains in house prices of around 10%. The pound’s fall after the vote pushed up inflation and added to pressure on the finances of households. Furthermore, many businesses are holding back on investment decisions as they await clarity on Britain’s future relationship with the E...
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