House price inflation in the UK increased more than forecast in March, a report from the Office for National Statistics showed Tuesday.

The ONS house price index rose 2.7 percent year-on-year in March, faster than a 1.9 percent gain in February. Economists expected the rate of inflation to edge up to 2 percent.

The average mix-adjusted house price stood at GBP 235,000 during the month. On a month-on-month seasonally adjusted basis, the price index rose 0.4 percent in March after a flat reading in February.

House prices in England rose 3 percent year-on-year in March and prices grew 1.2 percent in Wales. These gains were offset by declines of 1.7 percent in Scotland and 2 percent in Northern Ireland.

In March, prices paid by first-time buyers were 1.3 percent higher on average than in March 2012. For owner-occupiers, prices increased 3.2 percent for the same period.