News · 2 January 2026
UK House Prices Fall Unexpectedly in December as Lidl Reports Record Christmas Sales
British house prices dropped 0.4% in December, leaving annual growth at just 0.6%, the weakest since April 2024, according to Nationwide data that surprised economists who predicted a 0.1% monthly rise. Meanwhile, Lidl celebrated its strongest-ever Christmas performance with sales rising 7% to exceed £1 billion in the four weeks to December 24, as overall UK grocery spending hit a record £13 billion during December. The contrasting data highlights economic divergence between resilient consumer spending and a cooling property market heading into 2026.
Reported by Guardian · How we write briefs