The latest Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index® survey revealed a further solid expansion of employment numbers, despite a slowdown in new business growth to its weakest for four months. Meanwhile, intense cost inflation persisted in February, which was overwhelmingly linked to higher prices for imported materials.
Key findings:
- Solid upturn in civil engineering activity underpins growth in February
- House building activity expands at slowest pace for six months
- Input price inflation little-changed from January’s peak
At 52.5 in February, up slightly from 52.2 in January, the seasonally adjusted Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI® ) registered above the neutral 50.0 threshold for the sixth consecutive month. However, the rate of output growth remained weaker than its post referendum peak (54.2 in December 2016) and subdued in comparison to the trends seen over the past three-and-a-half years.
Survey respondents noted that the resilient economic backdrop and a stabilisation in client confidence since the EU referendum continued to help drive construction growth in February. However, there were also reports that demand growth had softened so far in 2017. Reflecting this, incoming new work increased only marginally and at the slowest pace since last October. Some construction companies noted that sharply rising input costs had an adverse impact on decision-making and contributed to delays in contract completions.
February data indicated that construction companies remain upbeat about their growth prospects for the next 12 months, with almost half (48%) forecasting a rise in business activity and only 13% expecting a decline. The degree of positive sentiment was stronger than seen on average in the second half of Page 2 of 4 © IHS Markit 2017 2016, but weaker than January’s 13-month peak. Strong demand for house building projects was cited as a key factor likely to boost construction output.
Robust business confidence contributed to sustained staff hiring across the construction sector in February. Sub-contractor demand also picked up during the latest survey period, which contributed the sharpest drop in sub-contractor availability since January 2016.
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Tim Moore, Senior Economist at IHS Markit and author of the Markit/CIPS Construction PMI®, said: “February’s survey data highlights that the UK construction sector has rebounded from its postreferendum soft patch but remains on a relatively slow growth trajectory. Weaker momentum in the house building sector was a key factor weighing on construction growth, alongside a renewed fall in work commercial projects.
“There was little sign that the UK storms had a material impact on construction growth in February, although some firms noted that longer delivery times for roof tiles had added to supply chain issues. Instead, survey respondents mainly cited an underlying slowdown in sales growth, with the latest rise in new work the weakest for four months. In some cases, construction companies reported that sharply rising input prices had a disruptive impact on contract negotiations.
“February data revealed that input cost inflation remained at levels last seen in the summer of 2008. Suppliers’ efforts to pass on rising energy costs and global commodity prices have been amplified by the weak sterling exchange rate.”
Input buying increased again in February, although the rate of expansion was only marginal. Greater pressure on supplier capacity led to the sharpest deterioration in vendor performance since June 2015.
Construction companies also reported the second-fastest rise in input costs since August 2008. Survey respondents noted higher prices for a range of materials, driven by the weak sterling exchange rate against the U.S. dollar and euro.
Duncan Brock, Director of Customer Relationships at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, said: “Suppliers were challenged this month as they groaned under the weight of higher demand and some material shortages, with the sharpest drop in performance since June 2015. This impacted on the sector’s overall pace of activity, as delivery times lengthened for bricks, blocks and roofing tiles.
“Housing was singled out as a drag with its weakest performance for six months. As a previous driver of growth, there will be concerns about this softening of house building activity. The drop in sub-contractor availability was the largest seen since January 2016, against a backdrop of rising employment numbers across the construction sector, which will add to worries around labour market capacity as we move along the path to Brexit.
“But overall, the sector’s optimism was still high as workloads remained strong, propped up by the prospect of new projects and repeat business. Though the level of new orders was modest, it is the relentless and brutal rise in prices for construction materials, combined with the impact of the weaker pound, that could block the sector’s progress in the coming months.”
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