In May 2017, construction output fell 1.2% in both the month-on-month and three-month on three-month time series, both of which fell for the second consecutive period, according to the latest official ONS figures.
When compared with April 2017, the most notable downward pressure on construction output came from infrastructure, which fell by 4.0%, equating to a real value fall of £61 million. However, this came after particularly strong growth in infrastructure in April 2017, where it grew 7.4%.
The other notable downward pressure on construction output came from private commercial work, and non-housing repair and maintenance.
Private commercial work shrank at a rate of 1.6%, resulting in a fall of £37 million in comparison with the previous month. Non-housing repair and maintenance fell for the third consecutive month, at a rate of 1.3%, causing output to decrease by £24 million.
In contrast, the only sector to provide upward pressure on construction output was public housing. The 6.1% increase in May 2017 equates to an increase of £24 million in real volume terms. However, it must be noted that this increase in public housing comes after a 5.4% decrease in April 2017.
