All construction industry articles
-
NewsCIC names O’Rourke technical boss as MMC champion
Nick Mead to advise organisation on digital construction policy
-
NewsReport to improve competency in construction out for consultation
Findings of Competence Steering Group stretch to nearly 150 pages
-
NewsFirms urged to take part in new cost of insurance survey
CIC says new questions will shed light on state of premiums and T Cs in post-Grenfell environment
-
CommentNicky come lately still doesn’t get it for all his Damascene conversion to capital spending
Nick Clegg doesn’t realise how important public spending is to unlock private sector funding
-
CommentRenovation and green agenda support weak construction activity across Europe
The Euroconstruct conference held earlier this month in London provided lashings of gloom, but it also provided plenty of food for thought
-
CommentConstruction output is heading into decline, but how fast and how far?
The numbers look grim but we have to dig a bit deeper before we panic
-
CommentWorst orders figures on record suggest the worst on the ground is yet to come
There are times when you hope you’re misreading data or that there may be an error. But it doesn’t look as though these crutches are available as I stare at the carnage implicit in the new orders data.
-
CommentRICS sees some positive signs in the private sector, but it's London and South-east driven
There are some positives in the latest survey but don’t get too excited until you read all the figures
-
CommentConstruction output: So far it’s better than last year, but can that last?
Output figures are looking good but why, how and is this sustainable?
-
CommentConstruction output figures in the dock: the case for the defence
The ONS makes its defence but still leaves questions unanswered
-
CommentIt still looks tough for civils firms, despite fewer pessimists
Work is still dwindling, but firms are more optimistic, finds the latest CECA survey
-
CommentThank God for the bankers
The RICS’ latest survey – and the current shortage of office space in London – shows that upcoming opportunities in construction will follow the money
-
Comment
The problem with surprises on inflation
Could it be that we are about to witness the beginnings of widening concerns over rising inflation?The Consumer Prices Index “surprise” jump to 3.7% yesterday will certainly increase rumblings in the markets and elsewhere.Although for the time being I suspect attention will be more focused on June 22 and ...
-
Comment
Construction redundancies remain high while vacancies remain low
As the real business of governing the UK begins to wind up again, the latest employment figures will do little to cheer the incoming government as it prepares to put chalk marks on where deep public sector cuts will be made.The overall figures showed the rise of unemployment continuing above ...
-
Comment
Buyers’ index suggests rapid growth in construction, how ironic
How ironic that just as the construction industry is sucking in its tummy and preparing for savage cuts the latest survey by the buyers’ body CIPS shows some of the strongest growth experienced over the past decade.As can be seen from graph on the right the current level of the ...
-
Comment
It’s a double-dip recession for construction, if the statisticians’ first stab at growth is right
Construction has fallen into a double-dip recession – that is if the preliminary estimates by the statisticians putting together the first quarter 2010 gross domestic product figures are to be believed.The preliminary GDP figures put growth at a pallid 0.2% for the economy as a whole. This low level of ...
-
Comment
Good news in the employment figures, but the future for construction jobs remains uncertain
The latest employment data will provide economists, politicians and strategists with plenty to chew on.The headline figure for unemployment jumped by 43,000 to top 2.5 million for the first time since 1996, the number of people in employment fell by 89,000 and the number wanting a job rose again.But there ...
-
Comment
Local builders still deep in recession says latest FMB survey
Evidence that construction is still far from free from the grip of recession has come from the FMB, the trade body that represents many of Britain’s local builders.The survey results show a market that remained in rapid retreat during the first quarter of this year.There is some good news as ...
-
Comment
Joy deferred as CIPS shows construction activity grows for first time in two years
So the construction activity indicator produced by the buyers’ body CIPS finally points to growth after two years of measuring falling workloads. But this seemingly uplifting moment appears to have brought little joy.The March figure popped its head above the 50 no-change mark on the back of rising activity in ...
-
Comment
Why construction firms must recruit financial engineers
Financial engineers – you can be forgiven for holding them in total contempt. The finger of guilt for the recession ravaging construction firms points witheringly in their direction.But, galling as it might seem, construction now needs financial engineers more than it needs civil, structural, mechanical or electrical engineers.The tools and ...