Economics columnist Cliff Taylor explains

Listen | 20:28
House prices: The latest residential property price index from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) indicated that prices rose at an average rate of 6.1 per cent in the 12 months to February, up from a rate of 5.4 per cent previously. Photograph: iStock
House prices are going in one direction - up. Illustration: Paul Scott

According to property website MyHome.ie, house asking prices rose by 7.3 per cent year on year in the second quarter, the fastest pace of growth recorded in two years.

And buyers report that the price they actually pay often way exceeds the original asking price as many buyers chase too few properties so that percentage rise is likely to be an underestimation.

This year the Government is spending more than €8 billion to address the housing crisis and inflation is running at 1.5 per cent – so why are prices not coming down? Economics columnist Cliff Taylor explains.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan.

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison is an Irish Times journalist and cohost of In the News podcast