Brickonomics

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

Beacons of hope in times of trouble?

There is currently much excitement being generated about the probability of construction starting on some of the much-talked of copse of towers planned to slice through the skyline of London. If that prospect smacks of confidence it is in stark...

Posted by Brian on February 9, 2009 8:50 AM

RICS pitch black news on commercial property - prices to fall more than in 1990s

If you like your news black like your coffee, then the latest survey of the commercial property forecast from the surveyors' body RICS will have you putting the kettle on if not reaching for the drinks cabinet. Expect property prices...

Posted by Brian on December 8, 2008 9:36 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

A lesson from history: realise the pain early when recession looms

I am in the midst of looking at endless numbers on house building and house builders for the annual Housing Market Intelligence report. I'll admit things are a bit slippy at moment. Trying to put meaning to the numbers is...

Posted by Brian on September 12, 2008 10:48 AM

Prospects for commercial property market dive in third quarter

The latest consensus forecast from the Investment Property Forum paints a bleak picture of prospects in the commercial sector. This will add to worries that the downward dip in the private commercial construction output figures is increasingly likely to turn...

Posted by Brian on September 5, 2008 1:47 PM

RICS figures suggest commercial building market is heading for a beating

The release of some pretty nasty survey results on the commercial property market from the surveyors body RICS is far from the sort of fare one would have served up just before heading off on holiday, but there it is....

Posted by Brian on July 21, 2008 10:55 AM

Commercial property demand plummets

The latest RICS survey on commercial property demand makes grim reading. Two figures are particularly worrying for the construction sector. Firstly: The balance of surveyors reporting demand down against those seeing demand rising was 30%, the worst figure for six...

Posted by Brian on April 18, 2008 1:07 PM