Construction industry got off to a flyer in 2017, says report
UK construction activity was up at the start of 2017, according to the latest Economic & Construction Market Review from analysts Barbour ABI. New building contracts awarded in January 2017 reached £6 billion, buoyed by housebuilding. Housing figures rose across January with construction contract value reaching £2.7 billion, up a whopping 83% on January 2016. […]
70% of UK builders hit by material price hikes
The depreciation of the pound has hit 70% of builders in the pocket, according to research from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Increases in material prices thanks to the devaluation of the pound since summer 2016 has impacted on the cost of building projects and affected contingency funds. A quarter of all materials in […]
Construction output declines, but new work increases
The latest construction output figures from the UK declined in the third quarter of 2016. Statistics from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show a 1.1% drop in Q3 2016. This was revised up, as expected, from the preliminary estimate of -1.4% released earlier, thanks to the incorporation of late data. New work output increased during […]
CPA predicts mixed fortunes for construction until 2019
The Construction Products Association (CPA) has predicted that construction activity will be largely flat for the next two years, with growth in infrastructure and education offsetting falls in activity in commercial offices and industrial factories, among others. Noting uncertainty following the EU referendum, the CPA urged the Chancellor to focus on reducing uncertainty for the private sector […]
Construction product manufacturers sales rise in Q3 2016
Sales of construction products have risen for the fourteenth consecutive quarter, according to the first post-Brexit Construction Product Association ‘State of Trade’ survey. Q3 2016 saw manufacturers moved from a pessimistic stance to an optimistic one regarding near-term prospects. Other key survey findings included: A balance of 26% of heavy side firms and 50% of […]