In the fourth quarter of 2012, the estimated total volume of construction output in Great Britain grew by 0.9 percent compared to the third quarter and was down by 9.3 percent compared with the same quarter of 2011, continuing the trend of year-on-year decline which started in the third quarter of 2011, according to a report released by the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS). In the whole of 2012, the total volume of construction output fell by 8.4 percent compared to 2011.
New building output volume in particular rose by 1.6 percent in the UK in the fourth quarter last year compared to the previous quarter and was down 11.6 percent year on year, while repair and maintenance work rose by 0.9 percent quarter on quarter but fell by 9.3 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2011.
The UK-based Construction Products Association (CPA) reported also that the majority of the domestic construction industry endured a difficult final quarter of 2012, due to declining output and orders on the demand side, combined with rising costs on the supply side. Noble Francis, economics director at the CPA, said, "It was good to see a rise in construction output for Q4 compared to Q3. However, output remains 9.3 percent lower than a year ago."
Mr. Francis noted that a minority of firms working on energy and rail projects continue to thrive as do construction product manufacturers who are able to export outside the EU. Yet, overall, the industry continues to suffer decline in work across both public and private sectors. Furthermore, outside of infrastructure, the industry is expecting that 2013 will be even more difficult, with declining orders and enquiries across the industry.
