On an annual, underlying basis Scottish house prices have increased by 0.8%. In the three months to 31 July 2010, the quarterly price index for the average domestic property in Scotland fell 2.9% on the previous quarter.
The Scottish housing market has been slow, with a low number of sales taking place in the second quarter of 2010. However, the number of house purchases recorded by the Monitor this quarter has risen significantly, up by 20% on the previous quarter and a 20% rise on the same quarter in 2009.
For the market as a whole, Scottish house purchases in June of this year have risen 19% compared to June 2009. Although increasing in the latest months, the number of housing transactions in the Scottish market is still around half pre-recession levels.
Professor Donald MacRae, chief economist, Lloyds Banking Group Scotland, said: "The Scottish economy exited recession at the end of last year with growth of +0.3% in the last quarter. Since then growth has stalled with economic output unchanged in quarter one of this year. However, business surveys suggest growth resumed in quarter two.
"Although positive, consumer confidence is still well below pre-recession levels. Retail sales are increasing at an annual rate of 0.8% in July, indicating weak growth in the economy.
"The number of housing sales has increased for four consecutive months from the low point of February this year. The rise in Scottish house prices identified at the end of 2009 and spring of this year has stopped and has partially reversed. However, activity has picked up from the low levels of the winter months. It is clear that recovery from recession in the Scottish housing market has paused."
