http://www.hbosplc.com/economy/quarterlyregionalcomments.asp

* The annual rate of house price inflation in Northern Ireland is 9.3%, the second largest increase in the UK.

* The average price of a house in Northern Ireland is £216,255, 10% above the UK average of £197,071.

* Carrickfergus (54%) and Lisburn (44%) have seen the fastest rise in house prices in Northern Ireland over the past year.

* The most expensive town in Northern Ireland in the past year was Lisburn (£253,804) followed by Bangor (£247,350).

* Seven of the ten towns with the fastest house price rises in the UK in the past year are in Northern Ireland.

* Greater London prices are now 1.4 times higher than those in Northern Ireland, compared with 2.6 times in Q4 2002.

"The housing market in Northern Ireland is more subdued than at the start of 2007. The rapid increase in prices in the past three years has raised affordability concerns which have pushed many buyers, especially first time buyers, to the sidelines.

"The average house price in Northern Ireland fell by 1.7% over the last quarter. However, because of strong growth earlier in the year, Northern Irish house prices still rose by 9.3% over the past 12 months, well above the UK average increase of 5.2%.

"The average house price in Northern Ireland is now £216,255, well ahead of the UK average of £197,071. At a regional level, only Greater London (£300,318) and the South East (£258,530) have a greater average house price.

"Despite a recent cooling in market conditions across the region, all towns surveyed across the Northern Ireland still recorded an increase in house prices over the past year.

"Carrickfergus in County Antrim experienced the strongest annual growth of 54%, followed by Lisburn at 44%."

Is it just me or is there something severely wrong with Halifax's data?

I can't believe that these locations have seen such strong increases over the course of 2007, it defies logic given that the market was tanking even before NR blew up and the credit crunch took hold.

Annual data still carries the tail end of the 'boom', come NOV, yoy data will be more realistic

I'm living over this direction and I fail how to see that a UFF abused place like Carrickfergus can have house prices increase that much