Latest ONS figures show a small fall of 0.4% for UK construction output in October, after being fairly flat in September.
This came from a slight rise in new work of 0.2% but was offset by a decline in repair and maintenance activity of 1.3%. This followed a very small rise of 0.1% in September where output was at very similar levels as August.
At the sector level, both commercial and industrial new work showed stronger growth in October of 1.7% and 2.4%, but a big monthly fall in private housing repair and maintenance of 3.8% dragged down activity overall.
On a year-to-date basis, output in the first 10 months of the year to October is 0.4% below 2023 levels during the same period. New work is 5.1% below last years’ levels, but strong growth in repair and maintenance of 6.1% has not been enough to compensate and reach last years’ levels of activity overall.
The housing sector has contributed to the fall in activity so far this year, showing a decline of 1.7% in the first ten months of the year compared with 2023. New build has been the issue, with output 6.5% below last years levels, being partly compensated for by growth of 3.4% in repair and maintenance activity.
In the other major sectors, infrastructure has seen a decline of 8.1% in activity this year, alongside a 2.4% decline in private commercial activity. However, strong growth in repair and maintenance activity (excluding housing) of 6.8% has helped to compensate for these declines.