New figures show how house prices have recently changed in Swindon compared with the rest of the south west.

House prices in Swindon increased in September, rising more than the average across the south west, figures from the Office for National Statistics show

The average Swindon house price in the year to September was £273,050 – a 1.1 per cent increase on August. It was higher than the average across the south west, where prices increased by 0.1 per cent.

The rise in Swindon contributes to the longer-term trend in the area, which has seen property prices in the area grow by 2.8 per cent over the last year.

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It means the area ranked fifth among the south west’s 26 local authorities for annual growth, with the average price in Swindon rising by £7,500 over the past year.

The highest annual growth in the south west was in the Forest of Dean, where property prices increased on average by 8.8 per cent.

At the other end of the scale, properties in North Devon lost 6.5 per cent of their value.

Across the UK, average house prices in September fell slightly on the month before, but have accelerated by 2.9 per cent over the past year.

Separate figures from the ONS show the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation jumped to 2.3 per cent in October, up from 1.7 per cent the previous month.

David Hollingworth, associate director at L&C Mortgages, said the jump in inflation could "bring further headaches for mortgage borrowers".

He said inflation lifting above the Bank of England's two per cent target is "not a shock", but added it is higher than many had expected.

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He said fixed-rate mortgages have climbed in recent weeks, adding: "Those increases are due to the less optimistic forecast for interest rates and today's figures will do nothing to change that.

"Although still expected to fall, the growing expectation has been for rates to fall more slowly and not as far as previously anticipated."

Alice Haine, a personal finance analyst at Bestinvest by Evelyn Partners, said: "Homeowners and first-time buyers are likely to be disheartened by the latest inflation reading, as it reduces the likelihood of a third rate cut this year.

"The average cost of a new fixed-rate mortgage has been creeping up since the Budget, as lenders price their products to reflect expectations that interest rates may stay higher for longer."

She added the rise in inflation means mortgage borrowers could have "more pain to contend with" if more lenders adjust their rates upwards.

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