TOP NEWS: UK construction sector boosted by housebuilding in February

(Alliance News) - UK construction activity saw a solid return to growth in February amid optimism ...

Alliance News 4 March, 2021 | 9:49AM
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(Alliance News) - UK construction activity saw a solid return to growth in February amid optimism over economic recovery and a swift vaccination rollout, the latest figures from IHS Makit showed on Thursday.

The IHS Markit-CIPS purchasing managers' index print increased to 53.3 points in February from 49.2 points in January, breaching the 50.0 mark that separates expansion from contraction.

CIPS is the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply.

Markit said new orders regained momentum as project starts increased in anticipation of improving UK economic conditions over the course of the year. Further, residential construction remained the strongest area of growth in February, although the speed of recovery eased slightly since January.

Tim Moore, economics director at Markit said: "Construction work regained its position as the fastest growing major category of UK private sector output in February. The rebound was supported by the largest rise in commercial development activity since last September as the successful vaccine rollout spurred contract awards on projects that had been delayed at an earlier stage of the pandemic.

"Housebuilding is still the engine of recovery for the construction sector, although there was a loss of momentum since January as adverse weather and longer wait times for materials contributed to some temporary delays on site."

The UK construction PMI is compiled by Markit from responses to questionnaires sent to purchasing managers in a panel of around 150 construction companies. Figures were collected from February 11 to 25.

By Arvind Bhunjun; arvindbhunjun@alliancenews.com

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