Monday Oct 6 2008
All times are London time

Search Quotes in the FT.com site
FT Logo
« When do early day motions count and when are they ignored?
Are MPs the best people to police themselves? »

June 10, 2008

by Jim Pickard

Cabinet ministers: put your money where your mouth is on the housing market

Ministers have been maintaining for ages that the housing market is not at the start of a painful crash. Even Caroline Flint, housing minister - who was photographed with a briefing note suggesting price falls of 10 per cent this year - has maintained that long-term demand remains strong.  The prime minister, meanwhile, is pushing ahead with numerous ways to ensconce new first-time buyers on the wavering housing ladder.

Matthew Oakeshott, Lib Dem Treasury spokesman, has a suggestion for senior ministers.

Lord Oakeshott points out that the futures market is now pricing in a 13.5 per cent fall in the Halifax house price index over the coming year, 21.5 per cent over three years and not recovering to previous highs until 2018.

He suggests that if ministers are as confident as they sound - that falls will be more modest - they should put their money on this outcome.

June 10th, 2008 in Current Affairs, Housing, Labour, Recession, UK economy, Uncategorised | Permalink

Post a comment

Comment Policy




As a final step before posting the comment, please type the two words you see in the image beloweight numbers in the audio clip; this test is to prevent automated robots from posting comments.

More FT Blogs and Forums

  • Economists' Forum Leading economists and the FT's chief economics commentator, Martin Wolf, debate the big issues

  • Gideon Rachman's blog The FT's chief foreign affairs commentator on world issues and his travels

  • Gadget GuruThe FT's personal technology expert Paul Taylor answers your gadgetry questions

  • Margaret McCartney's blogA forum by GP and FT opinion columnist on healthcare issues

  • Brussels Blog By our Brussels writers

  • Clive Crook's blog The FT's chief Washington commentator blogs about intersection of politics and economics

  • The Undercover Economist Tim Harford's blog on economics in everyday life

  • Willem Buiter's Maverecon The LSE professor blogs on 'economics, politics, ethics, religion, culture, free and open source software (FOSS), and whatever'

  • John Gapper's blog FT chief business commentator talks about business, finance, media and technology

  • Management Blog A forum for the latest thinking about the issues that preoccupy managers around the world

  • FT Alphaville Instant market news and commentary for finance professionals

  • Dear Lucy Columnist Lucy Kellaway and readers solve your workplace woes

  • FT Tech Blog Our San Francisco and world correspondents look at the intersection of technology and business