Why house prices are continuing to fall as inflation rises in Australia

House prices are going one way just as every other price in the economy is going the other. This means that if you inflation-adjust house prices, they look even cheaper. House prices are down only about 5-10% in cash terms, but when inflation-adjusted, they are down far more — back to 2017 levels.

The next graph shows what I’m talking about. Inflation-adjusted house prices rose extremely sharply during the pandemic, pulling them out of the lull they fell into during the 2017-18 price correction. That sharp rise is being reversed again now, and if the forecasts of high inflation and falling high prices are correct, it has a way to go.

Does it make sense to inflation-adjust house prices? We often talk about inflation-adjusting wages.