• UK annual house price growth ended 2017 at 2.6%, compared with 4.5% in 2016

• London weakest performing region, with house prices down 0.5% year-on-year

• Significant differences in regional affordability, but saving for a deposit remains challenging for most.

Commenting on the figures, Robert Gardner, Nationwide's Chief Economist, said: "Annual house price growth ended the year at 2.6%, within the 2-4% range that prevailed throughout 2017. This was in line with our expectations and broadly consistent with the 3- 4% annual rate of increase we expect to prevail over the long term (which is also our estimate for earnings growth in the long run)".