UK house prices barely rose over the year to October, and they did not change from September.

They rose only a very small amount.

The average cost of a five-year fixed-rate mortgage reached 6% in October, its highest level in three years, according to the article.

It is a home loan whose interest rate stays the same for an agreed period.

Higher borrowing costs can make a home more expensive to buy, even when prices are not rising.

This means the money people must pay to borrow money, such as interest on a loan.

There is also a wider backdrop.

This means the wider situation that forms the background to the news.

Its chief economist says prices may remain soft in the near term.

It means the next short period of time.

Its chief economist says prices may remain soft in the near term.

Here, it means prices may stay weak or grow slowly.

For buyers, slower price growth may ease one pressure, while mortgage costs remain high.

It means to make one difficulty less serious.