Output slips in August, official figures find

Construction output fell in August, according to the Official for National Statistics, with the figure for the month before being revised down into zero growth.

Output slipped 0.3% in August which the ONS said was down to a decrease in repair and maintenance (1.5%), as new work increased by 0.5%. Private housing repair and maintenance fell by 4.3%.

The ONS also said that the 0.2% increase in output it recorded in July had now been revised down into no growth for the month.

But the figures said that output in the three months to August increased by 0.3%, with repair and maintenance increasing by 1.3%, although new work fell by 0.4% over the period.

Aecom managing director for buildings and places Jo Streeten said: “To make sure this slowdown doesn’t take hold, the long-anticipated boom in housebuilding needs to start taking shape soon, while the commercial sector must keep up its strong run, especially with Grade-A office space still in short supply.”

The wider economy grew by 0.1%, the ONS said, but the figure for July was revised down from zero growth to a contraction of 0.1%.

Meanwhile, builders merchant Travis Perkins said in a trading update this morning that that like-for-like sales grew 1.8% in the three months to September.