•House prices experienced annual growth of 2.5 per cent in December, the first positive year-on-year change since May 2008.
•The monthly change was 0.1 per cent, and marked the eighth month in a row of positive monthly growth.
•This average property value in England and Wales stood at £161,783 in December 2009.
Regional outlook

•Seven regions in England and Wales experienced rises in house prices over the last 12 months.
•The region with the highest annual price change is London with an increase of 6.1 per cent.
•The region with the most significant annual price fall was Wales with a movement of -2.5 per cent.
•Both the North East and the West Midlands experienced the greatest monthly rises with movements of 1.9 per cent.
•Wales was the region with the most significant monthly price fall with a movement of -2.0 per cent.
Completed sales figures

•During October 2009 (the most up-to-date figures available), the number of completed house sales in England and Wales rose by 34 per cent to 59,482 from 44,530 in October 2008.
•Transaction volumes, while no longer falling at 2007 rates, remain relatively low.