ONS figures paint reassuring picture for sector
Construction output in November grew 0.4% on the previous month, according to the latest figures from the ONS.
Construction鈥檚 rate of growth in November was four times faster than the UK economy as a whole.
The increase in output, which was experienced in both new work (0.3%) and maintenance (0.5%), came as growth for October was revised upwards to 0.3%.
Five out of nine sectors in the industry grew in November, with the main contributors being private commercial new work (3.1%) and non-housing repair and maintenance (1.1%).
In the three months to November, output is estimated to have increased 0.2%, based solely on an increase in new work (0.4%). Repair and maintenance work was stagnant over the period.
鈥淐oming hot on the heels of a reported drop in inflation, the news this morning that the UK鈥檚 construction output has increased is another positive bellwether for the UK economy,鈥� said Richard Cook, senior economics director at Pegasus Group.
He said the construction industry 鈥渟hould reap the benefits鈥� of an increase in housebuilding on the back of the new National Planning Policy Framework but warned skills shortages continued to 鈥渉amstring鈥� the sector.
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