MADRID.- The housing sector is moving firmly towards an ever nearer adjustment. The total number of property sales recorded in the third quarter of the year amounted to 110,709. This figure represents a slight annual decrease of 'only' 15.4% and a quarterly increase (the first in over three years) of almost 10%, according to data published by the Association of Property Registrars.

This quarterly increase of 9.78% (9,859 more operations) in comparison with the April to June period breaks the downward trend sales had been showing in the last 13 quarters. That is, it is the first time in the history of the registrars’ records, set up in 2006, that this index has shown a quarterly rise.