Construction output improved 1% in Q2

Construction output was up just 1% in volume terms in Q2 compared with Q1, according to the latest data from the Department of Trade & Industry.

Half of the sectors showed increases, while the other half fell back. Public housing and private commercial enjoyed the greatest increases, of 5%. Private housing, private housing repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) and non-housing private RMI were all up 2%. Public housing RMI and non-housing public RMI suffered the most, both falling by 7%. Other public was down 3%, while infrastructure and private industrial were both down 1%.

In the year to Q2 compared with the same period a year ago, construction output dropped very slightly, but not enough to register as a percentage change. Just four sectors grew: private industrial, up 11%; public housing, up8%; private commercial, up 7%; and private housing, up 2%.

Sectors that failed to improve were: public housing RMI, down 10%; other public, down 8%; infrastructure, down 4%; private housing RMI and non-housing public RMI, both down 2%; and non-housing private RMI, down 1%.

Output volume Q2 2006 (Q1 2006 in brackets)*

• Public housing £592m (£563m)
• Private housing £2,830m (£2,762m)
• Infrastructure £1,261m (£1,268m)
• Other public £1,716m (£1,765m)
• Private industrial £959m (£964m)
• Private commercial £3,553m (£3,383m)
• Public housing RMI £1,599m (£1,714m)
• Private housing RMI £3,039m (£2,971m)
• Non-housing public RMI £1,631m (£1,753m)
• Non-housing private RMI £2,854m (£2,790m)
• Total £20,034m (£19,933m)

Output volume year to Q2 2006 (year to Q2 2005 in brackets)*

• Public housing £2,029m (£1,884m)
• Private housing £11,308m (£11,048m)
• Infrastructure £5,246m (£5,449m)
• Other public £7,110m (£7,726m)
• Private industrial £3,812m (£3,428m)
• Private commercial £13,549m (£12,701m)
• Public housing RMI £6,334m (£7,037m)
• Private housing RMI £11,970m (£12,245m)
• Non-housing public RMI £6,769m (£6,889m)
• Non-housing private RMI £11,432m (£11,541m)
• Total £79,560m (£79,947m)

* = Volume data at constant 2000 prices, seasonally adjusted