Persimmon Reports Strong Homebuyer Demand Despite Trade War

According to one of the UK’s leading home builders, President Trump’s trade war is not dampening the enthusiasm or capacity of individuals looking to buy homes.

Persimmon has indicated that it has “not yet observed any effects from the increased macroeconomic uncertainty on supply chains or sales figures.”

This optimistic statement led to a rise in the company’s share price by 42p, or 3.2 percent, bringing it to £13.37 on Thursday afternoon, marking its highest level since mid-November.

Founded in 1972 by Duncan Davidson and originally focused on constructing homes in and around York, Persimmon is now a major player on the London Stock Exchange, having been listed since 1985. The company currently holds a position in the FTSE 100 with a market capitalization of £4.2 billion.

Dean Finch, the company’s chief executive, noted that the year had begun on a positive note. He mentioned that after a sluggish period throughout much of 2023 and 2024, the market is beginning to recover thanks to decreasing mortgage rates and increasing wages, which have improved housing affordability. Agents and developers have also noted a growing impatience among buyers who have been on the sidelines for over two and a half years.

Since the beginning of 2025, Persimmon has been averaging sales of 0.65 homes per week across its 275 locations, reflecting a 3 percent increase compared to the early months of 2024. The developer reports that its average home prices have risen by 4 percent year-on-year, reaching £293,300.

The company’s order book has expanded to £1.68 billion, which is £250 million higher than the same time last year, a result of increased sales rates, higher prices, and an increase in operational sites.

Persimmon stated that “customer interest remains robust throughout the nation.” Consequently, alongside its upward price adjustments, the company has also decreased its reliance on sales incentives, such as offering free carpets or covering stamp duty. Previously, incentives represented nearly 5 percent of the sale price, which has now decreased to about 4 percent.

While economists predict a slowdown in the UK economy due to the US trade war, it is expected that this will prompt the Bank of England to consider interest rate cuts earlier than anticipated, potentially benefiting homebuilders.

Finch, age 58, remarked, “We have not experienced any immediate impacts on our business or customer confidence stemming from recent geopolitical tensions. Therefore, we remain poised to achieve a further increase in completions, targeting between 11,000 and 11,500 for the full year, as long as the UK housing market maintains its stability.”

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