British building society Nationwide said on Friday that house prices dropped in February in Britain, falling 1 percent from January.

The Times of London Online reported that nationwide chief economist Martin Gahbauer said it was difficult to tell "whether February's fall in prices is just a temporary blip or the start of a new trend."

Home prices had risen for nine consecutive months in Britain after plummeting during the financial crisis and the ensuing recession. Friday's drop, however, was the sharpest one-month decline since February 2009.

The annual rate of inflation increased from 8.6 percent in January to 9.2 percent as the monthly decline a year ago -- at 1.5 percent -- was steeper than the 1 percent drop in February this year.

Nationwide further said that the average price for a home in Britain in February was $245,390. (With Input From Agencies)