The number of new homes registered in May fell by 48% compared with the same month last year, according to figures from home guarantee scheme Homebond.
It said 1,292 homes were registered last month. This means that figures for the first five months of 2008 are down 60% on the same period last year.
The Homebond figures are seen as an indicator of future housing activity. Homebond is the bigger of two companies which provide registration figures, the other being Premier.
