16/06/2026
๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐๐ค๐๐ญ? ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ 2026 ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง & ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐
Warning... blog style post.
Think back to this time last year. Remember that slight wince when you tapped your card at the supermarket, or the way the numbers on the petrol pump seemed to spin faster than a Catherine wheel? For a long while, the "common sense" view was that prices would just keep spiralling until we were all living on beans on toast. But as we sit here in mid-June 2026, the picture is looking a lot more hopeful.
Iโm Robert Burdett, and over the years of helping people move, Iโve realised that while the "Big Economy" talk sounds scary, itโs really just about how much stuff you can get for your pound.
So, whatโs actually happening with inflation? Imagine inflation is like a cheeky little dog thatโs managed to get off its lead. It starts running away, and everything it touchesโthe price of a loaf of bread, your favourite biscuits, or a haircutโgoes up in price. For the last few years, that dog was at a full sprint.
Right now, however, it has slowed down to a steady trot. Our current inflation rate (CPI) is 3%. To put that in plain English: something that cost you ยฃ100 last June now costs about ยฃ103. While prices are still rising, they aren't jumping as high as they used to. Back in February, inflation was at 3.6%, so we are definitely heading in a calmer direction.
The "Pay Packet" Secret Here is the bit that doesnโt always make the headlines. While prices went up by 3%, average earnings actually grew by 3.7%.
Did you know that this gap is actually the "magic ingredient" for your bank balance? Because your wages are growing faster than the cost of your weekly shop, you have what we call "positive real wage growth" of about 0.7%. Essentially, for the first time in a while, you arenโt just running to stand still; youโre actually making a tiny bit of forward progress.
What does this mean for your move? When it comes to houses, this is a massive green light. For anyone thinking about buying their first home or moving up the ladder, that 0.7% extra "spending power" is a huge deal. It means that after youโve paid for the essentials, thereโs a little more left over to put towards a mortgage.
The Bank of England has kept the Base Rate steady at 3.75%, and because inflation is cooling, lenders are feeling more relaxed. We saw 63,500 mortgages approved this monthโup from 60,000 back in March. People are feeling braver about making a move because they can finally see their income winning the race against rising costs.
Bringing it home to null You might wonder how these massive national numbers affect us here in null. Well, itโs all about confidence. In the null postcode sector, we are currently in what Iโd call a "balanced market." We have 367 properties for sale, which gives buyers a lovely bit of choice without things feeling frantic.
Because people in null are seeing that extra bit of breathing room in their monthly budget, we are seeing steady demand. Our local average asking price sits at ยฃ327,863, and while things are taking a bit longer to sell (about 234 days on average), the fact that wages are beating inflation means local families can actually afford to look at those homes with a garden or an extra bedroom theyโve been dreaming about.
The Sunny Outlook While the national average house price took a tiny dip to ยฃ284,862 this month, the overarching story is one of stability. We aren't seeing the wild swings of previous years. Instead, weโre seeing a market that is becoming fairer and more "doable" for regular people.
It feels like weโve turned a corner. If youโve been waiting for the "right time," the fact that your pay is finally catching up with the cost of living is a very good sign indeed.
