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		</div><p>Britain’s construction sector suffered its weakest growth for six months in September as the “Brexit blot on the landscape” held back activity, according to a report.</p>
<p>The closely-watched Markit/CIPS UK Construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) showed a weaker-than-expected reading of 52.1 in September down from 52.9 in August, with house building losing momentum.</p>
<p>A reading above 50 indicates growth, but economists had expected the reading to remain at 52.9 according to consensus figures from Pantheon Macroeconomics.</p>
<p>The report said the September data indicated the sector continues to be in a “downbeat mood”, with business optimism at its second lowest level since the beginning of 2013.</p>
<p>This comes despite the figures showing the biggest rise in new orders since December 2016.</p>
<p><;i>;“The Brexit blot on the landscape was still in evidence as housing activity slowed to a pre-April growth rate and clients hesitated to place orders,”<;/i>; said Duncan Brock, group director at the Chartered Institute of Procurement &; Supply (CIPS).</p>
<p>Civil engineering was the worst-performing sector, as activity declined at a faster rate.</p>
<p>A lack of new work to replace completed projects was blamed, after a summer uplift caused in large part by work delayed earlier in the year.</p>
<p>Mr Brock added:<;i>; “This tale of feast and famine offers little in the way of reassurance and is more about holding on to stable growth than a sprint to the finish.</p>
<p>“The weakest overall activity in six months shows that caution and Brexit concern remain roadblocks to strong growth.&#8221;<;/i>;</p>
<p>The slower growth in house building comes as Nationwide Building Society also released data on Tuesday showing property prices edged up just 0.3% month-on-month in September.</p>
<p>Howard Archer, chief economic adviser at EY ITEM Club, said the weaker housing market could continue to act as a drag on construction.</p>
<p><;i>;“There is the risk that house building activity could be pressurised by extended lacklustre housing market activity and subdued prices amid challenging fundamentals,”<;/i>; he said.</p>
<p>The PMI survey of firms showed that optimism for the year ahead declined in September.</p>
<p>Construction companies cited political and investor concerns about Brexit as a factor in lower confidence.</p>
<p>Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said this was supported by official data which has indicated a decline in new orders and housing starts in the second quarter.</p>
<p><;i>;“Accordingly, we doubt that the construction sector will make a positive contribution to GDP (gross domestic product) growth over the next few quarters,”<;/i>; he said.</p>
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