The latest government figures from the Office of National Statistics show output down 9% compared with the final quarter of 2008, as workloads in the sector shrink even further. Between the third and fourth quarters of 2008 output fell by 4.9%.
Are the statistics correct? Analysis on our Brickonomics blog.Below: Construction output per quarter since 2002.
The total volume of construction output in the 12 months to Q1 2009 fell by 6% compared with the previous 12-month period.
However there was one bright spot with infrastructure orders up for the quarter and for the full year.
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The sector breakdown was as follows:
Private housing. Down 10% on the previous quarter, and 25% down for the year to Q1 2009 compared to the previous 12-month period. Public housing. Output 8% lower compared to the previous quarter, and also 8% down for the year compared with the previous 12 months. Infrastructure. Output in the 12 months to the Q1 2009 was 7% higher compared with the previous 12 months and Q1 2009 was 2% up on Q4 2008. Private industrial. Down 27% for the 12 months to Q1 2009 compared to the previous 12 months, and 21% lower for the quarter compared to Q4 2008.Private commercial. Fell 8% compared with the previous 12 months and dropped 16% in Q1 2009 compared with the previous quarter. New public non-housing. Increased by 15% compared with the previous 12 months but fell by 3% in Q1 of 2009
compared with the final quarter of 2008. Public housing repair and maintenance. Up by 3% for the 12 months to Q1 2009 compared with the previous year, but down 1% for the quarter compared to Q4 2008.
