The Land Registry received 11,378 sale and purchase agreements for all types of building units in April - a decrease of 18.3% over March, but an increase of 78.3% compared with the same month a year earlier.

Using a 12-month moving average, the figure for April represented an increase of 4.8% over March 2004 and 37.9% compared with April 2003.

The total value of these agreements in the month was $33.2 billion, down 18.8% from March 2004 but up 158.6% compared with the year-earlier period.

Among the 11,378 sale and purchase agreements, 8,994 were sale and purchase agreements for residential units.  This was a 21.4% fall from March 2004 but up 67.4% compared with April 2003.

The total value of these agreements in the month was $26.7 billion, down 19% from March 2004 but up 154% compared with the year-earlier period.