Building sector showing growth

September saw the first signs of growth in the construction sector for more than six years, with activity increasing for the first month since May 2007.

The latest edition of the monthly Ulster Bank Construction Purchasing Managers Index — which gauges the health of the sector — shows a reading of 55.7 points for September, up from 49.7 points in August.

The latest reading is the first time the index has been above the 50-point mark — which separates a sector in decline from one in growth mode — since May 2007.