Housing

More Britons expect house prices to rise rather than fall over the next twelve months, according to the Halifax Housing Market Confidence tracker. The Halifax Housing Market Confidence Tracker monitors public sentiment towards the UK housing market. The April survey was conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Halifax. Interviewing took place between 8th and 14th April 2011.

In a month in which the spotlight has been fixed on the reform of the health service, the Economist/Ipsos Issues Index shows that a quarter of the public (26%) think that the NHS is one of the most important issues facing Britain. This is an increase of six percentage points since April, and the highest level of concern since January 2008.

Rise in concern about the economy and defence/foreign affairs amid the Portuguese bailout and Libya crisis

The most marked increase this month is with petrol prices/fuel. One in seven (15%) are concerned about this, an increase of seven percentage points since last month, and the highest since July 2008. Those who are most concerned include those in rural areas (20%), those in social grades DE (21%) and those in Scotland (27%).

Our latest issues index shows that concern about unemployment is higher amongst the young.

The economy remains top issue of concern for all going into 2011 but there are different party priorities after that.

Concern about education increases in the wake of the student protests, though the economy and unemployment remain the two most important issues.

The Economist/Ipsos November Issues Index shows that the economy remains the most important issue facing the country - over half (54%) place it among the most important issues facing Britain today, and for two-fifths (39%) it is the single most important issue

The economy remains the issue of most concern, particularly for private sector workers