Construction output stood unchanged at £57.9bn in the year to the end of March, according to the latest figures from the DETR.
The figures appear to confirm industry forecasts that the record output growth of recent years is slowing down. A report published last week by forecaster Martin Hewes (1 June, page 18) predicted that growth would stabilise over the next three years after four years of acceleration.

The DETR said new work output fell 1% over the period to £31bn despite increases in the public and private housing and private commercial sectors.

But new work output increased 1% for the first quarter of this year compared with the previous three months.

Repair and maintenance work rose 1% to £26.9bn over the year and 3% to £6.83bn for the first quarter of 2001 compared with the final quarter of last year.