Monthly construction output increased 2.4% in volume terms in February 2023 – the highest monthly value in level terms (£15.6bn) since records began in January 2010, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The increase in output, which followed a 1.7% fall in January 2023, was thanks to a 4.3% rise in repair and maintenance work and a 1.1% increase in new work.
The ONS said output bounced back due to the continued strength of repair and maintenance work coupled with an improvement in weather in February, which allowed more work to be done.
Eight of the nine sectors tracked by the ONS enjoyed a rise in output in February, with the main contributors to monthly growth being private housing repair and maintenance and non-housing repair and maintenance, which increased 5.0% and 3.7%, respectively.
Clive Docwra, managing director of property and construction consultancy McBains, said: “As January saw the weakest monthly growth since June 2022, the construction industry will welcome today’s figures, with the proviso that much of the increase in output during February reflects a bounce back from the disappointing previous month.
“The increase was also driven by repair and maintenance work rather than new orders, confirming that caution is still the watchword amongst many investors who are holding back on new projects. There remains a mixed picture across work sectors – for example, new commercial housing projects saw a 4.4% fall, continuing the trend of not enough housing being built.
“Looking further ahead, the outlook for March may be less optimistic, given that it was the wettest for 40 years which will mean site work will have been impacted.”
