ONS statistics show monthly construction output has grown

The latest figures released by ONS have suggested that monthly construction output is estimated to have grown by 0.9% in April 2025; this is the third consecutive period of positive growth, following an increase of 0.5% in March 2025.

The increase in monthly output in April 2025 came from increases in both new work and repair and maintenance, which grew by 1.4% and 0.3%, respectively.

At the sector level, six out of the nine sectors grew in April 2025; the main contributors to the monthly increase were infrastructure new work and private housing repair and maintenance, which rose by 2.0% and 1.5%, respectively.

Total construction output is estimated to have grown by 0.5% in the three months to April 2025; new work increased by 0.9%, and repair and maintenance grew by 0.1%.

Meanwhile S&P Global CIPS published their latest construction purchasing managers index for May 2025. The figures complemented ONS stats showing that the recent downturn in the UK construction sector eased in May, with construction activity decreasing at the lowest level in 2025.

The S&P Global Construction PMI posted at 47.9 in May, up from 46.6 in April, but still below the 50.0 no-change threshold. This result represents the lowest rate of decline since the start of 2025.

All three subsectors showed some decline, with House building (45.1) the weakest performing with respondents citing subdued demand conditions. Civil engineering also declined significantly (45.9), while commercial work (49.5) declined only marginally.

Total new work decreased again but at the lowest rate in this period of decline, with respondents again citing delayed decision-making and cutbacks to capital spending budgets among clients.

Business expectations for the year ahead increased to the highest since December 2024, with 39% of respondents predicting an increase in output (16% predicting a decrease). Positive projections were attributed to hopes of a turnaround in housing market conditions, increased
infrastructure work and decreasing borrowing costs.

If you would like to read more stories like this, then please click here