UK housebuilder bemoans 'challenging times'

British housebuilder Persimmon today said uncertain market conditions had left it nursing a 14% fall in forward sales at the start of 2008.

Persimmon said the year-on-year dip to £603m (€805m) reflected weaker confidence in the last three months of 2007, although it predicted falling interest rates would boost activity levels ahead of the spring selling season.