RTTNews reports that the Residential Market Survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, or RICS, showed that british house prices increased again in February but the current lockdown restrictions weighed on the sales market activity.

The house price balance rose to 52 percent in February from 49 percent in the previous month. Further, twelve month price expectations picked up, with the net balance climbing to +46 percent from +30 percent in January.

The net balance for new buyer enquiries came in at -9 percent in February versus -29 percent in January.

Looking ahead, near term sales expectations moved into marginally positive territory at +6 percent, marking the strongest reading for this series since October last year.