Specialist retirement homebuilder McCarthy & Stone has said that it is suffering its most difficult trading conditions for decade. This gloomy assessment of the current market comes as the company report record first half pre tax profits of £48.3 million up10% on turnover of £131 million. Sales rose from 780 units to 792 units with the average selling price increasing to £165,000 from £142,000. Chairman and chief executive Keith Lovelock said the company was “more cautious in relation to expected results for the second half.” He added: “We are just trying to tell the story as it is. This is where we are. We do not want people to be too optimistic.” The company said that forward sales since the end of February were “somewhat lower” than last year.