Brickonomics

Seven years of construction growth wiped out say GDP figures

The latest GDP figures showed a marked slowdown in the rate of collapse of the economy. But the drop of 0.8% was significantly more than economists were expecting, if the mood judged by Reuters gives a fair assessment. The median...

Posted by Brian on July 24, 2009 10:22 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

Construction shrinks at the fastest rate ever recorded

It was with genuine shock that I looked at the latest output figures. I was busy finishing something off when Noble Francis of the Construction Products Association called to ask if I'd seen the figures. I thought he was pulling...

Posted by Brian on June 5, 2009 10:53 AM

A glimpse of the future as 56% of surveyors see workload fall

Construction workload is expected to continue to collapse at a rapid pace according to the latest industry survey by the surveyors' body RICS. Surveyors experienced declines in workload across all regions and all sectors illustrating the broad spread of this...

Posted by Brian on May 27, 2009 9:18 AM

Chancellor provides optimism in the gloom...and that's what's worrying

The direct measures aimed at construction-related activities and businesses in the 2009 Budget will be welcomed in some quarters, mainly among the house builders. Though I am not so sure I would go with the instant view from the surveyors'...

Posted by Brian on April 22, 2009 2:41 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

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

How bad will deflation be for UK construction?

The talk now is not of inflation but deflation. The latest inflation figures showed a fall for the first time in 15 months and the Prime Minister chided the opposition with the line that if this year was about inflation...

Posted by Brian on November 18, 2008 2:02 PM