But, equally, it can be argued that as the US was first into the big slowdown that started in 2007, it will be the first out of it - including its property market.

That could well bode well for UK inc in the coming months and even - dare we suggest - the UK's housing market.


The US started falling mid 2006. 2 years of falls and still heading south.

On this basis the UK has at least 18months of falls to run.

There is no chance of the UK property market recovering in the 'coming months'.

I agree Tom. In fact, I have just written a piece on this very subject for PS which should be online shortly. My take on the US situation is that there are (albeit feint) signs of the start of a recovery, though the next three months or so will prove crucially one way or the other. If the US market downturn is bottoming, the UK will take at the very least a year to get to the same stage. We may be in a better economic condition (employment, etc), which means we should recover slightly faster, but I fear we still have quite a way to go before we can say the UK property market will even begin to turn around.

Tony B