It would appear that prices seem to be rising. In the US a lot of people are using their homes as a personal ATM machine to buy items that they would not normally buy. i have friends that have refinanced their homes to buy cars, trucks, boats and what have you! This is scary since 50% of these loans are adjustable rate mortgages. If the rates start to climb, ( as they certainly must ) there are going to be a lot of folks in trouble! The English are having a field day do to the increased value of the pound and I am certain that this is causing the prices to escalate.