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

Forecasts suggest some rays of hope, but huge uncertainty remains

For those with an optimistic nature there was some good news to be seen in the latest set of industry forecasts with both the Construction Products Association and Hewes trimming how much they feel output in the industry will fall....

Posted by Brian on October 16, 2009 12:35 PM

Output figures show continued fall in cash flowing into construction

At first sight the latest construction output figures provide some relief. The fall in output in the second quarter of the year estimated to be just 0.5% and there was a slight rise in the output of new work measured...

Posted by Brian on September 4, 2009 4:33 PM

Construction trade survey confirms worsening slump

The latest trade survey covering both the contracting and materials sectors underlines both the depth and the rate of decline in the construction sector with pessimism rampant across all sectors. As in all surveys there are glimmers of light and...

Posted by Brian on August 10, 2009 10:23 AM

Contractors face a £24 billion drop in new work

UK contractors should prepare themselves for a £24 billion drop in the annual cash value of new work coming through as the recession reaches its expected bottom in 2011. Shrinking volumes and plunging prices threaten to drag the cash spent...

Posted by Brian on July 30, 2009 10:33 PM

Another one for the file marked "Gloom": What do you mean you haven't got one yet?

Many thanks to Mel Budd of Leading Edge who sent me the consultancy's latest forecast. For simplicity's sake I have put the base figures for output in a graph with the other industry forecasts. What is striking is the growing...

Posted by Brian on July 30, 2009 11:21 AM

It's worse in construction than we thought say forecasters

The latest forecasts to emerge in the current round all see the future prospects for construction as far gloomier than was expected when the number crunchers examined the figures three months or so ago. Experian now expects a 12% decline...

Posted by Brian on July 13, 2009 4:53 PM

Recession may cost 800,000 construction jobs - that's one in three

The latest forecast from the Construction Products Association puts the annual peak to trough fall in construction at a shade above 20%. That probably translates to a 22% to 23% fall peak to trough on a quarterly basis, which compares...

Posted by Brian on July 6, 2009 11:16 AM

If it's growth you want, start looking again at house building

I received a bit of a teasing prod this morning from my good friend the editor of CJ, Aaron Morby, when he rang me up to quiz me on house building targets. "Don't you think we are seeing a recovery...

Posted by Brian on May 13, 2009 5:21 PM

Recessionary pain spreads, says latest construction trade survey

The latest state of construction trade survey figures compiled and analysed by the Construction Products Association is interesting as it provides a clear picture of an industry drifting deeper into recession. We seem to be, just from a cursory look...

Posted by Brian on May 6, 2009 8:59 AM

Experian revises down its forecast for construction output

Industry forecasters at Experian followed their rivals and cut expectations of construction activity over the coming three years. The predicted decline in output in 2009 is now put at 7.8% followed by a slight drop of 1.7% in 2010 and...

Posted by Brian on April 9, 2009 3:02 PM

We're in the worst recession on record, says Construction Products Association

The spring round of forecasting has brought more gloom with the Construction Products Association taking an even dimmer view of industry prospects than in the winter. On the basis of the current data available the materials producers' body predicts a...

Posted by Brian on April 3, 2009 9:09 PM

Are the leaders of the contracting industry fit for purpose?

My attention was drawn to a letter sent yesterday by the Construction Products Association's chairman Adrian Barden to the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform regarding the current plight of the construction industry. It makes hard, clear,...

Posted by Brian on March 7, 2009 8:42 AM

...on the subject of gloom, here's the latest state of trade survey

The latest industry state of trade survey covering construction product manufacturers and contractors gives a reasonable view of just how rosy things are. It is put together by the Construction Products Association. I will leave you to judge. Here are...

Posted by Brian on February 5, 2009 12:18 PM

Construction output to fall to 1996 levels by 2011, says forecast

Remember the pleasure and pain of Euro '96, the rise and rise of the Spice Girls, This Life and Chris Evan's TFI Friday on TV, John Major as Prime Minister and Swampy digging in against the road builders? Well some...

Posted by Brian on January 22, 2009 1:32 PM

Experian cuts forecast for construction growth but predicts a boom in infrastructure

With the release of the heavily downgraded forecast from the Construction Products Association released this morning I was keen to see how the forecasters at Experian saw future workload in the industry this time around. The answer is that they...

Posted by Brian on January 12, 2009 5:17 PM

Forecast puts construction recession on par with 1990s - so expect 600,000 job losses

The rapid deterioration in confidence in the construction industry is amply illustrated by the latest prognostication of the Construction Products Association forecasters. The industry trade body has massively downgraded its expectations for construction output over the next six years, despite...

Posted by Brian on January 12, 2009 8:34 AM

Spot the difference

I was quick out of the blocks this morning keen and eager to get my hands on the latest construction output figures. Sad really, but it keeps me happy. Until this morning that is. Hot on 9:30 I downloaded the...

Posted by Brian on December 5, 2008 11:29 AM

Bright spots in the gloom says Experian's latest construction forecast

I've just received an email from James Hastings, head of construction futures at Experian Business Strategies with the latest forecast update attached. And, not a surprise, it was gloomier than the summer forecast, which then saw the industry overall stumbling...

Posted by Brian on October 16, 2008 12:40 PM

Construction faces a worse recession than in the 1990s, says forecast

My good friend Martin Hewes passed me a copy of the latest forecast from Hewes & Associates. It's not good news, I'm afraid. His last forecast was pretty bleak, this is bleaker still. The headline figure of note is the...

Posted by Brian on October 9, 2008 3:11 PM