		<div class="wpcnt">
			<div class="wpa">
				<span class="wpa-about">Advertisements</span>
				<div class="u top_amp">
							<amp-ad width="300" height="265"
		 type="pubmine"
		 data-siteid="111265417"
		 data-section="1">
		</amp-ad>
				</div>
			</div>
		</div><p>The UK construction sector “sharply” declined last month on the back of political uncertainty and subdued demand ahead of the general election, according to new figures.</p>
<p>The closely-watched Markit/CIPS UK construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) reported its eighth consecutive month of decline in the sector.</p>
<p>It revealed a reading of 44.4 for the month, reflecting a slump from 45.3 in November, as the sector remained firmly in a position of contraction.</p>
<p>Any reading below 50 points means the sector is in retreat. The figure was below analyst forecasts, who had predicted a slow-down to a 45.6 reading for the month.</p>
<p>The report highlighted a “sharp reduction” in construction output for December, which saw the sharpest decline in civil engineering activity for more than a decade.</p>
<p>Tim Moore, economics associate director at IHS Markit, said: <em>“December data suggested that the UK construction sector limped through the final quarter of 2019, with output falling in all three major categories of work.</em></p>
<p><em>“Brexit uncertainty and spending delays ahead of the General Election were once again the most commonly cited factors highlighted by firms experiencing a drop in construction activity.”</em></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">ð¬ð§ UK Construction PMI â¬ï¸ to 44.4 in December (Nov: 45.3) signalling another sharp reduction in construction output, amid the quickest fall in civil engineering activity since March 2009. More here: <a href="https://t.co/26DAHtlDRI">https://t.co/26DAHtlDRI</a> <a href="https://t.co/inO6LnXS60">pic.twitter.com/inO6LnXS60</a></p>
<p>&mdash; IHS Markit PMI™ (@IHSMarkitPMI) <a href="https://twitter.com/IHSMarkitPMI/status/1213033325406965760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Duncan Brock, group director at the Chartered Institute of Procurement &; Supply, said: <em>“The civil engineering sector was the biggest victim of this new wave of decline registering its sharpest fall since March 2009.</em></p>
<p><em>“The relatively resilient residential sector also continued its downward spiral although at a slower rate compared to the last six months offering some small moderation in the face of reduced overall activity.”</em></p>
<p>The monthly report also highlighted a “sharp drop” in commercial work, which it said was “partly attributed to clients opting to postpone spending decisions ahead of the general election”.</p>
<p>Housebuilding also declined for the seventh consecutive month, although the rate of decline was considered “modest”.</p>
<p>Construction companies said they saw a decline in new business for the month, but they also reported the softest decline in staffing numbers for four months.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, cost rises slowed down over the period, with the latest increase in overall purchasing costs the weakest recorded by the survey for almost 10 years.</p>
			<div style="padding-bottom:15px;" class="wordads-tag" data-slot-type="belowpost">
				<div id="atatags-dynamic-belowpost-68ecea4162492">
					<script type="text/javascript">
						window.getAdSnippetCallback = function () {
							if ( false === ( window.isWatlV1 ?? false ) ) {
								// Use Aditude scripts.
								window.tudeMappings = window.tudeMappings || [];
								window.tudeMappings.push( {
									divId: 'atatags-dynamic-belowpost-68ecea4162492',
									format: 'belowpost',
								} );
							}
						}

						if ( document.readyState === 'loading' ) {
							document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', window.getAdSnippetCallback );
						} else {
							window.getAdSnippetCallback();
						}
					</script>
				</div>
			</div>
Discover more from London Glossy Post
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
