Member Article

Construction Output weakens to lowest levels since 1980

Construction output continues to weaken, a latest figures from the Office of national Statistics show that orders fell by more than 5% in Q3 compared to the same period in 2010.

This figure represents the lowest Q3 figure since 1980.

Chief executive of the Construction Products Association Michael Ankers commented: “ As expected the fall is sharpest in public sector construction – education, health, and social housing - and although there is some pick up in orders for private sector commercial work, this is heavily focused in London and the south east and is not strong enough to compensate for the sharp decline in orders for public sector work.“

Over the course of the whole year, orders were 14% lower than the same period in 2010.

While the government has promised to make further investments in the construction industry, Mr Ankers believes that it will be some time before any effects will be felt.

He added: ‘This week’s Autumn Statement brought the prospect of increased investment in infrastructure but the government’s figures show that this will not have any significant impact until 2013 at the earliest.

“As a result, and in the light of today’s new orders figures, the industry needs to brace itself for an even sharper fall in output in 2012 than that already anticipated.’

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .