Robert Gardner

Robert Gardner is the chief economist at Nationwide, a major UK building society and mortgage lender. He is newsworthy due to his role in providing expert analysis and forecasts on the UK housing market. Recent news articles cite his commentary on fluctuating house prices. Specifically, he noted a sharp rise in March following increases in January and February, and a surprise fall in December. Gardner also forecasts a potential 2-4% rise in house prices in 2026, attributing this to improved affordability driven by income growth and potentially falling interest rates. His insights are significant as they influence public understanding and expectations regarding the UK housing market's performance and future trends.