Estate agents have reported a “very strong” early February, suggesting that the property market may be picking up again. The National Association of Estate Agents has said that house prices increased by 0.1% last month, the first time month on month prices have not fallen since last May. However the prolonged drop in prices means the annual rate of house price growth is now running at just 1.1% as opposed to 10% last summer. Richard Hair, the association’s president, is confident the recent upturn will continue: “Come Easter, we expect to once again be witnessing gently rising property prices across much of the country, with the doom mongers looking foolish once more.”