House prices in the three months to November were 0.6% lower than in the preceding three months, according to the latest Halifax house Price Index.

This measure of the underlying trend was negative for the second successive month following three consecutive increases.

On a monthly basis, house prices fell by 0.9% in November. This continued the very mixed picture shown by the more volatile monthly figures. There has been an even split of monthly price rises and falls this year with five of each and one month of no change.

The average UK house price in November was marginally lower than at the end of last year. The average price in November was 0.7% lower than in December 2010 on a seasonally adjusted basis, at £161,731.

Annually, prices in November were 1.0% lower as measured by the average for the three months to November against the same period a year earlier. This continues the improvement experienced since May when prices were 4.2% lower and is the smallest annual fall since November 2010 (-0.7%).

Martin Ellis, Halifax housing economist, said: “Overall