Further decline for building sector

THE construction industry suffered further in May, with declines in general activity and new business levels picking up pace.

On a whole, the latest edition of the monthly industry monitor from Ulster Bank — the construction purchasing managers’ index — dropped (from 43.7 points in April to 41.1 points) for a third consecutive month.

Significantly, the fall in May was the strongest monthly decline so far this year and pushed the continual downward momentum in activity out to four years.