Construction output down
Construction output fell 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2017, representing both the eighth consecutive three-month on three-month fall and the third consecutive quarter-on-quarter decline in output, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, which were revised up from a preliminary estimate of -1.0%.
However, despite experiencing three consecutive quarterly declines, construction output in Great Britain grew by 5.1% in 2017 due to strong growth at the end of 2016 and in Q1 2017.
Construction output fell by £283 million in the three-month on three-month time series in October to December 2017 compared with July to September 2017. This decrease stems from falls across all but two sectors. The most notable decline came from private commercial work, which continued the decline seen in this series since June 2017, falling by £324 million.
In contrast, private housing continued to make a notable positive contribution to growth. The £403 million increase in private housing work, which represents the fifth consecutive month of growth in this series, has led to the value of private housing work reaching its highest level on record.