Construction News

Tue March 19 2024

Related Information

Construction output slows

11 Jan 18 Latest numbers from the Office for National Statistics show that construction output in November rose by 0.4% on October and on the previous year, but quarterly output was down.

Over the three months September to November 2017 construction output decreased by 2%, representing the sixth consecutive month of decline and the biggest contraction since August 2012.

Construction output peaked in March 2017, reaching a level that was 31% higher than the lowest point of the last five years, January 2013. Following the month-on-month increase in November 2017, construction output is now 27.6% above this level.

The 0.4% month-on-month rise in construction output in November 2017 occurred due to increases in both repair and maintenance, and all new work. Total repair and maintenance increased by 0.5%, following three consecutive months of decline. All new work grew by 0.4% in November 2017. All new work accounts for approximately two-thirds of all work, while repair and maintenance accounts for approximately one-third.

Rebecca Larkin, senior economist at the Construction Products Association, commented: “Today’s data confirm what has been signalled by early indicators and industry surveys – that construction ended 2017 on a weak note. Past falls in new orders, particularly in the commercial and public non-housing sectors, now appear to filtering through into lower volumes of work. On a three-month basis, commercial output fell 5.4%.

“It now looks impossible that the industry avoided a full quarter of contraction in Q4, with the £30 billion private housing sector contributing the only positive story. Therefore, construction is set to have caused a drag on overall UK economic growth during the quarter.”

Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk

MPU
MPU

Click here to view latest construction news »