Taylor Wimpey is upbeat on housing

Conditions in the UK's housing market are "signficantly better" than this time last year, with prices rising and a gradual increase in mortgage availability, housebuilder Taylor Wimpey said today.

The firm said it had avoided "the usual seasonal slowdown over the summer" and said autumn sales have remained "solid."

It added that the average selling price for private homes was up 9% on the £163,000 achieved during the first half.