Competition among UK house sellers is at an 11-year high, giving buyers more options and holding prices steady. Property portal Rightmove reports the average asking price for new listings fell by just £12 to £368,019 in February. A surge of new sellers since Boxing Day has boosted housing supply and buyer choice. Rightmove says buyers now have more power to negotiate. Confidence among buyers and sellers hit its highest since September 2025. If the Bank of England cuts interest rates in March, borrowing could get easier as spring selling season approaches. The price remains almost unchanged from a year ago, despite a 2.8% rise since December. Rightmove’s Colleen Babcock says sellers are cautious, focusing on realistic prices due to high competition and sensitive market conditions. Meanwhile, Japan narrowly avoided a recession with 0.1% GDP growth in October-December 2025, after a 0.7% drop the previous quarter. Private consumption increased but exports and public spending were weak. Economist Shinichiro Kobayashi said, “Personal consumption showed resilience, but whether this resilience can be sustained will depend on whether price relief measures will make an impact and whether real wages will turn positive.” Japan’s economy faces challenges from US tariffs and China-Japan diplomatic tensions. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently began a new term promising strong fiscal policies and unveiled a huge ¥21.3 trillion (£100 billion) stimulus package in November. More measures may be needed to boost growth.