UK house prices rise more than expected, Nationwide data showsNationwide and Bank of England data highlight housing market trendsLONDON, March 2 (Reuters) - British house prices rose slightly faster than expected last month after a dip at the end of 2025 linked to uncertainty over finance minister Rachel Reeves' budget, mortgage lender Nationwide Building Society said. House prices in February were 0.3% higher on the month, the same pace of increase as in January but a touch stronger than the poll's median forecast for an increase of 0.2%. Interest rate expectationsMany investors think the BoE will cut its main interest rate to 3.5% this month. Risks to the housing market recoveryPaul Dales, chief UK economist at Capital Economics, said Monday's data suggested that the improvement in the housing market and the wider economy at the turn of the year has been sustained. "The growing risk, though, is that an inflationary shock from the events in the Middle East puts the handbrake on housing by limiting interest rate cuts," Dales said.
