Output volume dropped in 2005

Construction output increased 4.5% last year to £107bn in value, but crucially volume dropped by 1% overall.

The latest data from the Department of Trade & Industry shows strong value increases for private housing (up 9.3% to £18.3bn) and private industrial (up 7.9% to £4.3bn). Other public was down 3% to £10.2bn. In total, all new work increased 3.8% to £59.4bn.

Output value in the repair, maintenance and improvement sector increased 5.5% to £47.6bn, as all four subsectors enjoyed growth, notably other public up 11.5% to £8.9bn.

However, volume analysis shows increases for private housing (4%), private industrial (6%), private commercial (1%) and public non-housing RMI (5%). All other subsectors slipped, particularly public housing (7%), infrastructure (8%) and other public (9%).

Construction output value 2005 (2004 in brackets)

• Public housing £2.7bn (£2.6bn)
• Private housing £18.3bn (£16.8bn)
• Infrastructure £6.5bn (£6.5bn)
• Other public £10.2bn (£10.5bn)
• Private industrial £4.3bn (£4bn)
• Private commercial £17.4bn (£16.8bn)
• New work total £59.4bn (£57.2bn)
• Public housing RMI £8.6bn (£8.3bn)
• Private housing RMI £15.3bn (£14.9bn)
• Other public RMI £8.9bn (£8bn)
• Other private RMI £14.7bn (£13.9bn)
• Total RMI £47.6bn (£45.1bn)
• Total output £107bn (£102.3bn)