| Property Prices In 2005-Level Fall
House prices fell at their fastest rate for more than two years during October as would-be buyers continue to stay away from the market, the latest figures have revealed. The cost of property in the UK fell for the third month in a row in October and at its fastest pace since July 2005, said the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. At the same time, the number of people looking to buy a home fell for the 11th consecutive month. A combination of higher interest rates, the recent credit crunch and tighter lending criteria from mortgage lenders is hitting demand. But, the group said, a shortage in the number of homes being put up for sale was continuing to prop up the market. And surveyors' confidence in future house prices has reached its lowest level since April 2003.
Dubya Finally Gets It
Why, he even went so far as to admit that jobs, which he had consistently exulted that, thanks to his tax cuts, were growing in glorious profusion, are drying up like over-the-hill peonies left out in an unforgiving sun. Just to show how thoroughly clued in Mr. Bush has suddenly become, he disclosed in muted fashion that housing had fallen off a cliff, that a lot of mortgages weren't worth the paper they're written on, that oil prices have gone through the roof and that ordinary folk, as they are wont to do, are worried. Golly. We're happy to report that after reciting his modest litany of woe, the president, in an attempt to cheer up the audience, not to mention the rest of the country, which happens to have a large contingent of those worried ordinary folk, declared he was optimistic.
Boro to look at Hutchinson claims
Hutchinson has reportedly agreed a pre-contract deal which will see him arrive at Celtic Park in the summer. However Southgate was not forthcoming with any confirmation of the move. The 20-year-old has made several appearances for the Middlesbrough first team but was not required for Saturday's FA Cup clash with Mansfield. Alerted to reports concerning Hutchinson, Southgate said: "That's something that has emerged over the last couple of days, and I haven't even had a chance to sit and speak to Ben about it. "I don't want to say too much about that at this moment in time because there is a bit of investigating to be done into it." .
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