Construction growth pace brings New Year cheer

The fourth quarter rate of expansion was the best since the third quarter of 2007 - despite a slight easing in the pace of growth last month from a peak in November, according to the closely-watched Markit/CIPS purchasing managers’ index for construction.

The survey showed a reading of 62.1 in December, down from 62.6 the previous month, but still well above the 50 level that separates growth from contraction.

Apart from November, the reading has not been as high since August 2007. It marks eight months of continuous growth in the sector.

Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said: “The decline merely signalled a modest easing in the rate of expansion from the surging pace of growth.”

David Noble, chief executive of the Chartered Institute for Supply and Purchasing (CIPS), said: “Continued strong expansion marked an outstanding end to 2013 for construction, positioning the sector on a solid recovery path for 2014.”

The figures add to the picture of a sustained recovery, after data from the manufacturing sector on Thursday showed it managed its best quarterly performance in two-and-a-half years at the end of 2013.

Meanwhile, a survey from Nationwide on Friday showed house prices surged by 8.4 per cent over 2013 across the UK as the market revival became increasingly broad-based.

The construction PMI figures showed house building - a sub-sector buoyed by Government initiatives such as Help to Buy and Funding for Lending - remained the fastest growing area of activity in December, though it posted a slower pace of growth than November.

Work on commercial projects and civil engineering activity continued to grow strongly, the survey found.

Meanwhile, the majority of firms were optimistic about the year ahead, with 57 per cent expecting growth.

Stronger business confidence and a sustained improvement in new order levels continued to drive staff recruitment.