FTB's vs interest rate rises

the uk market is still precarious-lowest number of first time buyers in 35 years ,low numbers of sales completed which can distort average prices,many areas in uk were down 5-12% last year add in inflation and its even more, outside of london not much is rising,it remaisn to be seen if they level off and rise slowly especially with signs uk economy may beslowing with gnp growth down to 2% or nearly same level as europe
 
What surprises me is that affordability amongst FTB's doesn't really seem to be an issue. Now obviously people aren't over the moon with having to pay 400K for a 2 bed apartment but this hasn't stopped them. The average age of FTB's is at it's lowest level ever. Even with rising interest rates I don't hear many FTB's crying into their cornflakes.

Is there a possibility that poverty, or indeed not being rich, is such a bad word nowadays that people can't admit it. I can't believe that. Maybe everyone IS loaded these days.