Brickonomics

Orders figures continue to point to a rougher road ahead

For those poring over the latest new orders figures released today to find guidance on the future of construction activity I suspect there is something for the optimists, but rather more for the pessimists. It must be said that trying...

Posted by Brian on November 5, 2009 12:44 PM

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

Contractors are bagging a third less new work than at peak

The latest new orders figures provide a sobering injection of reality after the barrage of "it's okay the recession is over" talk that seems rife. Yes the rate of collapse has slowed. But it's the level that really matters at...

Posted by Brian on October 1, 2009 10:47 AM

Public sector keeps construction orders afloat

The new orders figures were out today and they hint at a uplift, with the headline figure showing a 2% rise comparing the three months to July with the previous three months. And recently when I speak to people in...

Posted by Brian on September 10, 2009 10:16 AM

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

Ignore those saying new construction orders are on the rise

I feel sure there will be someone penning near euphoric words about the 18% rise in orders in the second quarter, which is the opening line of the statistical bulletin released today. Ignore it. The new orders figures bounce about...

Posted by Brian on August 6, 2009 10:10 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

The orders figures and public spending fears point to industry chaos ahead - need it be so?

The good news is that after the monstrous distraction over the past month cause by raking over expense claims made by MPs we are getting back to debate about things that really will shape our lives - notably how much...

Posted by Brian on June 11, 2009 1:20 PM

Watch out for snake oil salesmen purveying good news

There are few things more odious than selling false hope to desperate folk. But I am seeing ever more evidence of this sad occupation. I would have posted a blog on the latest new orders figures yesterday, but I was...

Posted by Brian on May 8, 2009 10:03 AM

What revelations are there in the insolvency figures?

If Pestilence is the diseased financial system War is contractual and trade disputes Famine is the lack of orders Then Death must be measured by the insolvency figures. And they do look a bit on the pale side. The base...

Posted by Brian on May 1, 2009 11:11 AM

NSCC survey of specialists highlights strategic industry problems

I was passed a draft copy of the latest state of trade survey undertaken by the specialist contractors' body NSCC. It covers the first quarter of this year and tells pretty much the story you'd expect - orders and inquiries...

Posted by Brian on April 23, 2009 12:44 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

Another month another set of "worst ever" new orders figures

The February figures for new orders were worse than the January figures which were the worst monthly figures ever recorded. There is perhaps little to add to the comments made last month other than to say if you are looking...

Posted by Brian on April 2, 2009 12:05 PM

Red alert as new orders plunge to record low in January

January 2009: the worst monthly new orders figures ever recorded And with little sign that February will be prove any better, the latest figures for new orders underline the collapse of construction across the board. Every sector - even public...

Posted by Brian on March 12, 2009 10:51 AM

Could buying up unsold private stock be stifling social house construction?

Is it just me, or is there a link between the deals being struck through the Government's National Clearing House to take unsold private homes into the social sector and the recent collapse in new construction orders for social house...

Posted by Brian on February 16, 2009 5:54 PM

...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

Did monthly new orders really hit an all time record low in November 2008?

I have been seeing a lot of "worst ever" and "worst since at least" stories about the November new orders figures. I am conscious that so many statistics are being thrown around at the moment that it is confusing. And...

Posted by Brian on January 16, 2009 10:01 AM

Worst six months for construction new orders since September 1995

The latest figures for new orders appear to have taken a turn for the even worse in November after already having fallen off a cliff in May last year. The 12 month rolling total of orders won in volume terms...

Posted by Brian on January 15, 2009 11:00 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

Planning pipeline shows signs of drying up

A rough and ready way to judge future levels of constrution work is to look at the level of planning applications being submitted. You have got to be a bit careful about drawing conclusions too quickly, as many factors influence...

Posted by Brian on December 2, 2008 12:32 PM