Construction activity declines again

NOVEMBER proved a bleak month for the construction industry as the rates of decline in activity, new orders and employment all accelerated.

New business declined at the fastest pace since May while firms indicated they were pessimistic about the 12-month outlook for activity.

The Ulster Bank purchasing managers’ index (PMI), a measure of the performance of the construction sector dropped slightly to 34.2 in November from 34.5 in the previous month.