ONS shows July construction growth

Author: ross sturley cimcig

Office for National Statistics figures show a continuing rebound for construction output in July, but with activity still below that in February.

Monthly construction output grew by 17.6% in July 2020, following the record monthly growth of 23.5% in June 2020; but the level of construction output in July 2020 was still 11.6% below the February 2020 pre-lockdown level.

Construction output fell by 10.6% in the three months to July 2020, compared with the previous three-month period; this was driven by falls in both new work (9.7%) and repair and maintenance (12.4%).

The decrease in new work (9.7%) in the three months to July 2020 was because of falls in every new work sector, apart from infrastructure, which grew by 6.0%; the largest negative contributor was private new housing, which fell by 17.0%.

The decrease in repair and maintenance (12.4%) in the three months to July 2020 was because of falls in all repair and maintenance sectors; the largest contributor was private housing repair and maintenance, which fell by 17.9%.