Are house prices really dropping?

Multiple articles says house prices are increasing, and have for quite a while. And then you read the graph over time and their value is dropping significantly.

I might just be cynical after house hunting since Nov and being in fake multi-offer situations or being told the house is already under contract but put in a higher price. At one point, the REA says, these two houses are going to two friends but I think I can persuade them to buy one house together so you can have one. Because friends apparently share houses like they share sandwiches. These houses are still unsold.

Banks, mortgage brokers and real estate agents have a vested interest in telling you it's thriving. The way I see it, house prices won't incline until the economy starts to incline and there's job security and fear of redundancy disappears.

What are your thoughts? And is there any credible forecasters?

P.S. I'm not actually an accountant, reddit chose this name and I don't know how to change it.