The latest HBF survey results reflect continuing uncertainty in the housing market as the year draws to a close. Site visitors and site reservations are well down on a year ago, and had slipped further between September and October. House prices have also fallen. The proportion of firms expecting higher sales in 2005 stands at +28%.<p></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&amp;*)</b></td></tr> <tr><td><b></b></td><td><b>Jul</b></td><td><b>Aug</b></td><td><b>Sep</b></td><td><b>Oct</b></td></tr> <tr><td>Site visitors</td><td>-32</td><td>-36</td><td>-34</td><td>-44</td></tr> <tr><td>Net reservations</td><td>-19</td><td>-31</td><td>-32</td><td>-52</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Net house price change during the month (balance&amp;*)</b></td></tr> <tr><td></td><td>+21</td><td>-4</td><td>-4</td><td>-24</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Companies expecting higher sales in 2005 (balance&amp;*)</b></td></tr> <tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>+28</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>