According to figures published by Eurostat, house prices in the euro area rose by 4.5%, and by 4.7% in the EU, in the first quarter of 2018 compared with the first quarter of 2017. Compared with the fourth quarter of 2017, house prices rose by 0.6% in the euro area and by 0.7% in the EU in the first quarter of 2018.
The highest annual increases in house prices in the first quarter of 2018 were recorded in Latvia (+13.7%), Slovenia (+13.4%), Ireland (+12.3%) and Portugal (+12.2%). Prices fell in Sweden and Italy (both -0.4%) as well as in Finland (-0.1%). Compared with the previous quarter, the highest increases were recorded in Latvia (+7.5%), Hungary and Slovenia (both +4.4%) as well as in Portugal (+3.7%). The largest decreases were observed in Malta (-4.7%), Cyprus (-1.8%) and Sweden (-0.8%).
Further information is available at http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STAT-18-4442_en.htm.