House prices

The House price index (HPI) measures the evolution of market prices of all residential properties that are purchased by households (flats, detached houses, terraced houses, etc.), both new and existing, independently if bought for own-occupancy or as an investment.

In the fourth quarter of 2014:

• the House price index (see Italian IPAB) decreased by 0.8% compared to the previous quarter and by 2.9% in comparison to the same quarter of the previous year;
• the prices of new dwellings decreased by 0.7% compared to the previous quarter and by 1.2% with respect to the fourth quarter of 2013; prices of existing dwellings declined by 1.0% compared to the previous quarter and by 3.6% with respect to the same quarter of the previous year;
• the average annual rate for 2014 was -4.2% (from -5.7% in 2013). It was due to the decrease both of prices of existing dwellings (-5.0%, from -7.2% observed in 2013) and of prices of new dwellings (-2.2%; in 2013 it was -2.4%).

Next scheduled publication: 2 July 2015