Construction continues to struggle

A PICK-UP in international economic conditions is having no effect on the Irish construction sector which is still in dire straits, battling against a raft of job losses and falling orders.

Latest figures from the Ulster Bank construction purchasing managers index (PMI), which measures the health of the industry, found that business conditions continued to deteriorate last month.

The index fell to 33.1 in December from 34.2 in November, well below the 50 mark which indicates growth. Activity, new business and employment fell at faster rates during the month, and for the second consecutive month firms forecast that activity would be lower in 12 months time than current levels.