Building activity at four-month high

Growth in construction activity, here, climbed to a four-month high in July, new data shows, indicating Irish builders felt no immediate negative effects from Britain’s vote to leave the EU.

The latest Construction PMI (purchasing managers’ index) from Ulster Bank – widely recognised as being the leading barometer for the health of the building sector – shows a reading of 61 points for July, up from 59.7 in June.

Any reading over the 50 point mark signifies a sector in growth mode.