Brickonomics

Building Britain's Future promises 45,000 new jobs building homes - That can't be right

Has anyone else prodded the sums on the 45,000 new jobs promised in the Building Britain's Future document as a result of the £1.5 billion pledged to stimulate building of 20,000 social and 10,000 private homes? I would have had...

Posted by Brian on July 6, 2009 5:51 PM

Five reasons why the G20 summit is great news for UK construction

I meant to get in an early night, but George Soros was billed to appear on Newsnight and while I know it's shallow I am a sucker for celebrity. I legitimised my decision on the grounds that I wanted to...

Posted by Brian on April 3, 2009 9:56 AM

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

Repossessions may be worse than in the 1990s crash

The ubiquitous Robert Peston in his blog suggests that the Council of Mortgage Lenders has advised ministers that repossessions could rise to 75,000 next year. That would mean a return to the bleak days of the early 1990s when repossessions...

Posted by Brian on December 3, 2008 4:18 PM

The UK construction industry is in recession

If the definition you use is two quarters of negative growth, then on the first count by the national statisticians the construction industry is in a recession. The latest GDP figures show that growth in the whole economy dipped by...

Posted by Brian on October 24, 2008 9:35 AM