Sharpest overall rise in construction output since November 2017

July 6, 2018

The latest IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 53.1 in June, up on 52.5 in May and against the no-change reading of 50, signalling the sharpest overall rise in construction output since November 2017.

Duncan Brock, group director at CIPS, said: “With the fastest rise in new orders since May 2017, it appears the brakes are off for the construction sector. Despite being hampered by economic uncertainty, firms reported an improved pipeline of work as clients committed to projects and hesitancy was swept away.

“Input prices were a challenge with the biggest inflationary rise since September 2017, so the pressure was on to build up stocks of materials rising in price and becoming more scarce. This resulted in a heavy impact on suppliers unable to keep pace as deliveries became laboured and purchasing managers were at their busiest for two and a half years.”

“Housing continued on its positive trajectory for a fifth month and commercial activity also improved after a weak start to the second quarter. However, before we bring out the bunting, the sector is not out of the woods yet and there needs to be further sustainable activity to be convincing. A cloud of uncertainty remains, given the sector’s hit and miss performance so far this year and lower than average business confidence in June.”

Read the latest IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index news report June 2018 in full click here.

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Why first-time buyers should start the financial conversation early

Award-winning mortgage adviser, Alexander Hall, is encouraging the nation’s first-time buyers to open up about their finances this Talk Money Week, offering expert guidance on how to make these conversations more natural, productive, and stress-free. What is Talk Money Week? Talk Money Week is a national initiative created by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS)…
Read More →
Breaking News

Bonfire Night could cause £1,500 in property damages

New research from Adiuvo, the UK’s leading provider of 24/7 property management support, warns that Bonfire Night could cost renters an average of £1,475 in property damage if proper care is not taken, but that with a few simple safety checks in place, the much-loved evening of celebration and community can go off without a…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Buying a Home? What you need to know about asbestos

Asbestos is a well-known issue in UK housing – but while it’s rightly treated with caution, it doesn’t need to cause alarm. With the right advice and professional guidance, it’s a manageable problem that shouldn’t stand in the way of purchasing a dream home. Used widely in construction until 1999, asbestos is often found in…
Read More →
Breaking News

Hodge Bank introduces 80% LTV on Interest Only Mortgages, helping borrowers maximise their affordability

Specialist lender Hodge has today announced it will accept 80% Loan to Value (LTV) on Interest Only Mortgages to help borrowers expand their affordability. The criteria enhancement is the latest in a raft of changes introduced by the lender in a bid to make its underwriting as flexible as possible. This change applies to Hodge’s…
Read More →
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 4/11/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Fine & Country network prepare for success in 2026 Premium estate agency Fine & Country is delighted to announce the return of its Regional Meetings this November, bringing together business owners, key decision-makers, and leading agents from across the network. These highly anticipated events…
Read More →
Breaking News

The end of the ‘Forever Home’? 63 per cent of young homeowners prioritise flexibility and renovation potential over permanence

63 per cent of younger homeowners (18-34 year olds) find the ‘forever home’ concept less important than older generations Nearly half (45 per cent) of the same group of homeowners expect to move home within the next five years, embracing a flexible ‘Right Now Home’ model 23 per cent of 18-34 year olds view their…
Read More →