Terrorism triggers a property slowdown

The number of Londoners planning to move house within a year plummeted after the US terror atrocities and has continued to fall.

Signalling a slowdown in the capital's property market, the proportion who say they will move by the end of this year has dropped from seven per cent in October to six per cent now, according to an Alliance & Leicester survey.

While consumer confidence in general returned to the high street with a vengeance in time for Christmas, Londoners' appetite for buying and selling property has not come back.

Just before the US attacks, 12 per cent planned to move in the short term. Within days of 11 September, almost half had changed their minds.

Asked about moving plans in the longer term, only nine per cent said they would sell and buy - far fewer than five months ago.