House prices rose by only 0.5 per cent during the past month as the property market continued to slow.

The increase, which puts the average price of a house at £161,370, follows a rise of 1.2 per cent the previous month, according to property web site Rightmove.

The slowdown reduced the annual rate of house price inflation to 17.8 per cent from 22.5 per cent the previous month, reinforcing the view the market was slowing rather than heading for a crash.

Wednesday April 16 2003