Construction output fell by 0.2% in the third quarter of 2011 compared with the previous three months, according to the latest officials statistics.
The Office for National Statistics’ latest construction bulletin said volumes were down by 1% compared to a year ago.
All new work fell by 0.6% and repair, maintenance and improvement work rose by 0.7%, compared to the second quarter.
Reductions were experienced in six out of nine sectors, with new private housing work falling 2.5% quarter on quarter. The figure was actually up 0.7% on a year ago.
Housing repair and maintenance work in the private sector was 0.7% lower compared with the previous quarter, while public work was 2.2% lower.
Andrew Duncan, managing director of property at consultancy Turner & Townsend, said the figures were further evidence of the strength of the bad economic headwinds buffeting the construction sector.
“Output has fallen in two-thirds of the industry’s sectors, and where there is growth it is both halting and fragile.
“Already low levels of confidence have been further eroded, and we’ve seen substantial belt-tightening in the private sector.
“The one, meagre, ray of light is the steady increase in levels of repair and maintenance work. But that cannot offset the dropping off of new build work.”
For more details visit www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/construction.
