The seasonally adjusted estimate for the month decreased by 1.4 per cent compared with December 2014, and by 6.0 per cent compared with January 2014. In recent months the trend in seasonally adjusted transactions has been on a slight downward trend.
January 2015 the number of non-adjusted residential transactions fell compared with December 2014. This is usual during this month of the year, although the number of non-adjusted residential transactions was also lower compared with January 2014.
Danny Waters, Chief Executive Officer of Enterprise Finance, said:
“Residential transactions look pretty flat on a seasonally adjusted basis, but the reality is that there were actually more than 25,000 fewer completions in January than December. This is a larger decrease than over the equivalent period twelve months ago and a disappointing start to the year. With pre-election uncertainty likely to dampen activity in the coming months, we could be set for a subdued couple of months until votes are cast in May.
“It’s a similar picture on the non-residential front with seasonally adjusted figures reporting only a slight monthly improvement. January’s figures aren’t anything to panic about, but there may be cause for concern if we don’t see an improvement in the coming months.”
