Contractors target infrastructure spending after output weakened in December

By Will Ing2019-01-04T06:00:00

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Confidence picks up despite Brexit uncertainty, according to the latest IHS Markit/CIPS data

Business confidence among contractors is rebounding due to anticipated infrastructure spending, despite December rounding off a difficult year for construction output.

A strong performance for civil engineering activity last month was offset by a slowdown in the growth of housing and commercial sectors, according to the latest IHS Markit/CIPS data.

The pair’s PMI index registered a score of 52.8 in December, down from 53.4 in November, meaning construction continued growing for a ninth consecutive month, although progress was the slowest in three months, capping a year of cautious expansion with commercial building suffering its lowest increase in activity since May.

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