SYDNEY: Australia's home prices rose at a weak pace in November, the country's 22nd consecutive month of price rises, although state capitals Sydney and Melbourne both logged falls.
Figures from property consultant CoreLogic, released on Monday, showed prices across the nation climbed 0.1 per cent in November, falling back from 0.3 per cent growth seen in October.
The monthly lift was driven by a 1.1 per cent jump in Perth, a 0.8 per cent gain in Adelaide, and a 0.6 per cent rise in Brisbane. Prices slipped 0.4 per cent in Melbourne and 0.2 per cent in Sydney.
"The downturn is gathering momentum in Melbourne and Sydney," said Tim Lawless, CoreLogic's research director, adding that midsize capitals and regional areas helped lift the national index.
"But it is clear momentum is also leaving these markets," Lawless said, pointing to lower buyer demand and a boost in property vendor activity since the end of June as factors.
The market outlook "arguably deteriorated" in the past month, CoreLogic said, citing geopolitical risks, stubbornly high inflation, a tight jobs market and lower chance the Reserve Bank of Australia will cut interest rates early next year.
A Reuters poll in November forecast home prices in Australia to rise steadily over the coming two years, driven by tight supply and an expected modest easing cycle from the country's central bank, which has rates at a 12-year high of 4.35 per cent.