Output up, but orders falling

Author: ross sturley cimcig

Construction output continued its steady recovery following a relatively weak start to the year, increasing by 3.3% in the three months to July.

Construction Enquirer reports the industry has now enjoyed three months of steady growth, rising 2.9% in May and 1.4% in June, and 0.5% in the latest July returns. But this could be shortlived with separately released new orders figures showing a strong slide for the third quarter in a row, declining 6.5% in April-June to the lowest level since the first quarter of 2013. This was driven predominantly by a 17.6% fall in new housing orders. Private industrial and public infrastructure were also down 18% and 23% respectively.