Rics survey shows brighter outlook

The outlook for house prices has stabilised, according to data from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics). In December 2012 the net three-month price expectations balance turned positive for the first time since May 2010. Rics' headline national price balance improved from minus 8 to 0. This means that the same proportion of respondents reported price falls as those who reported rises over the three months.