Construction activity still rising

The Irish construction sector ended 2016 with activity in residential and commercial building continuing to rise, but civil engineering remains weak, according to the latest monthly Ulster Bank construction report.

The Ulster Bank Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index, a seasonally-adjusted index designed to track changes in total construction activity, posted 58.9 in December, down from the reading of 59.8 in November but still signalling a substantial monthly increase in activity. A reading above 50 signals growth.

Construction activity has now risen in each of the past 40 months, with panelists mainly linking the latest expansion to higher new work volumes.