Q3 output improves 7% to £25.8bn

Construction output in the third quarter increased 7% compared with the same period a year ago to reach a total of £25.8bn.

Output from new build increased 13% to £14.5bn, while the repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) sector was largely unchanged at £11.3bn.

Five of the six new build sectors grew, with public housing enjoyed the most growth of 28%. Private housing output grew 25%, other public moved ahead 15% and private commercial was boosted 13%. Private industrial grew just 1%.

Infrastructure was down 10%.

The best RMI market was private housing, up 7%. Public housing improved just 1%. Other public showed no change and other private slipped 7%.

Q3 new build output 2004 (Q3 2003 in brackets)

• Public housing £662m (£517m)
• Private housing £4,314m (£3,451m)
• Infrastructure £1,645m (£1,831m)
• Other public £2,646m (£2,299m)
• Private industrial £993m (£922m)
• Private commercial £4,263m (£3,776m)
• Public housing RMI £2,024m (£1,996m)
• Private housing RMI £3,808m (£3,571m)
• Other public RMI £2,008m (£2,008m)
• Other private RMI £3,477m (£3,707m)
• Total £25,840m (£24,078m)