Statistics suggest a very uncertain future for construction

According to the Construction Products Association (CPA) there is still every reason to cautious about construction prospects and the industry’s prospects for the rest of the year.

This is despite the latest ONS figures for construction output in February which showed an increase of 6% compared with January.

Commenting on these figures, Noble Francis, the CPA’s economics director said: “February’s positive figure has to be seen against the background of a 13% decline in output in January and is 5% below the level of output in February last year.

“Construction faces a very uncertain future with the latest new orders falling 14%, and private sector investment still not growing at a rate to compensate for the sharp falls in public sector spending on construction.

“Despite these positive figures for February it is now almost inevitable that construction output will fall in the first quarter of the year and have a negative effect on the growth in GDP.”

More information: www.constructionproducts.org.uk/