Brickonomics

Growing evidence of double dip collapse for construction

The latest round of trade survey data points to an ugly acceleration in the rate of collapse of workloads. Persistent sightings of green shoots over the late spring and summer now look to have been little more than a mirage....

Posted by Brian on November 3, 2009 11:21 AM

CIPS: construction still the sick man of the UK economy

There is nothing remarkable about the latest CIPS construction survey other than the comments, which are somewhat more guarded than those that accompanied last month's data. It found workload in the industry still falling on its measure which registered 47.7...

Posted by Brian on September 2, 2009 10:18 AM

CIPS talk of optimism is baffling

The CIPS appeared to be putting a rather positive spin on its July figures for construction activity on the back of a slowdown in the pace of decline and swelling optimism among its respondents. The press release reads: "Optimism about...

Posted by Brian on August 4, 2009 10:43 AM

CIPS construction index bounces back, but what does that mean?

The latest survey by the buyers' body CIPS shows a remarkable bounce back in the broad construction index towards the magic 50 no-change mark. The index has risen from 30.9 in April to 38.1 in May and up to 45.9...

Posted by Brian on June 2, 2009 12:16 PM

Contractors optimistic despite being trapped in mire of recession - says CIPS

The buyers' body CIPS remained muted about the prospects for construction despite a slight lift in the construction industry. The main construction index published by CIPS rose to 30.9 for March up from a series low of 27.8 in February....

Posted by Brian on April 2, 2009 11:38 AM

CIPS construction activity figures provide a reality check

The construction survey results from the buyers' body CIPS should provide a reality check on those who believe talking up the industry will help. For those looking at the situation closely the disastrous figures for February should come as little...

Posted by Brian on March 3, 2009 2:20 PM

We see rays of sunshine amid the gloom, construction buyers tell survey

You have got to admire the spirit, we are on the verge of the deepest recession most in the industry have witnessed and yet there are those in the construction who feel the worst may be passed. That seems to...

Posted by Brian on February 3, 2009 10:26 AM

Construction industry ends 2008 on a record low

Happy New Year, or is it? The first piece of hard data on performance of the construction industry we get and it is a "new" record low for the Purchasing Managers' Index compiled for the buyers' body CIPS. The overall...

Posted by Brian on January 5, 2009 10:48 AM

Construction's only salvation is for the Government to spend big

A cut in interest rates by the Bank of England at noon this Thursday is being pencilled in by most analysts and economists, the only real question appears to be how big the cut will be. This may help the...

Posted by Brian on December 2, 2008 12:14 PM

Construction is sinking deeper into recession

The latest construction survey from the buyers' body CIPS finds the industry plunging to new depths with civils and commercial work rapidly following the path led by the house builders. The Purchasing Managers' Index for November reached a series low...

Posted by Brian on December 2, 2008 10:20 AM

Threat of more job cuts as credit crunch contagion spreads to commercial work

The recession in construction is looking increasingly desperate as the giant commercial sector appears to be heading for a nasty fall. The latest round of data will be a massive body blow to those who sought comfort in the notion...

Posted by Brian on November 4, 2008 10:26 AM

With recession a near certainty, the question is how deep

The latest new orders figures and CIPS survey leave little if any room for doubt, construction is dropping into a recession fast and the drop looks deep. The more worrying thing about the figures is that last year forecasters were...

Posted by Brian on October 2, 2008 10:43 AM

Industry retains optimism despite the gloomy forecasts

In the face of growing concern and gloom surrounding the construction industry, in particular the house building bit, construction folk in general seem to be keeping their spirits and appear on balance to be optimistic about future prospects. That, as...

Posted by Brian on September 2, 2008 9:55 AM

If this is not recession - what is?

However much you may have been expecting it, the pace of bad news is overwhelming. Back to back, undiluted and dismal. The buyers body, CIPS, today reports on construction and unsurprisingly, given the current wave of shocking statistics, its Purchasing...

Posted by Brian on July 2, 2008 10:34 AM

Wave of job cuts spells more gloom for construction

The Government's confidence booster of "we'll be okay look at our strong labour market" is now starting to look rather shaky. The last pillar of hope for those keen to stop a collapse in house prices was strong employment. That...

Posted by Brian on June 4, 2008 10:45 AM