London - House prices in Britain have fallen by 1 per cent over the past 12 months in what was the first year-on-year fall since 1996, figures showed Wednesday.

The figures, published by the Nationwide Building Society, were further evidence of an economic slowdown, analysts said.

The cost of a home dropped for the sixth month in a row during April, sliding back by 1.1 per cent, as the credit crunch continued to take its toll on the property market. (dpa)