Visitors and net reservations are well down on a year ago, and prices fell slightly during August – the first time the survey has recorded a negative price balance since December 1998. <p></p><p>Housebuilders are increasingly using incentives, and remain positive about the outlook for sales in 2004.</p><p></p><table><tbody><tr><td><table><tbody><tr><td><b>Activity in the month compared with the same month a year ago (balance+)</b></td></tr> <tr><td><b></b></td><td><b>May</b></td><td><b>Jun</b></td><td><b>Jul</b></td><td><b>Aug</b></td></tr> <tr><td>Site visitors</td><td>-17</td><td>-24</td><td>-32</td><td>-36</td></tr> <tr><td>Net reservations</td><td>+14</td><td>-18</td><td>-19</td><td>-31</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Net house price change during the month (balance&amp;*)</b></td></tr> <tr><td></td><td>+55</td><td>+32</td><td>+21</td><td>-4</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Companies expecting higher sales in 2003 (balance&amp;*)</b></td></tr> <tr><td></td><td>+61</td><td>+55</td><td>+43</td><td>+49</td></tr> <tr><td>The HBF survey is based on responses from over 400 companies across all regions of Great Britain weighted to take account of their size.</td></tr> <tr><td>&amp;* Balance: % reporting an increase less % reporting a decrease (GB)</td></tr> </tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>