House prices fell by a total of 15.9% in 2008, Nationwide has reported. According to Nationwide’s figures, the average price of a home dropped 2.5%, contrasting with the 0.4% dip of November. But Fionnuala Earley, Nationwide’s chief economist, pointed out that the study’s three-month on three-month rate indicated only a 4.2% drop, as the rate “smoothes the volatility often seen …