House prices fell 0.3 per cent across England and Wales in 2012, according to market intelligence agency Hometrack.
The firm has published its figures for December today, showing a 0.1 per cent decline in prices for the month, and 0.3 per cent fall during the whole year.
The fairly static headline figure conceals wide regional variations, with 20 per cent of postcodes registering price increases, but 66 per cent reporting falls. House price inflation was strongest in London and the south east, and weakest in the north west, north east, and Wales.
The 0.3 per cent fall is an increase on 2011, when prices fell 2.3 per cent, and Hometrack is predicting a greater decline for 2013.