A marginal expansion in housebuilding was offset by declines in commercial building work and civil engineering, according to a new report
The UK construction industry last month contracted at its fastest pace since late 2009, according to a purchasing report.
The joint Markit-CIPS purchasing managers’ report revealed that output slumped, thanks to a “return to declining levels of commercial building work and a sharp decrease in civil engineering activity”.
Commercial construction decreased at its steepest level for more than three years.
The reduction in civil works was the fastest since October 2009.
The twin declines offset an increase in housing activity a sector in which marginal expansion created the first improvement in fortunes since May last year.
The Scottish Building Federation executive director Michael Levack said the falling figures gave the “clearest indication yet” of the need for a change in strategy in George Osborne’s Budget later this month.
“The damaging effect on the industry of the significant cuts imposed to date is becoming increasingly clear,” he said.
