Construction now at 15-month high

Growth in construction is at a 15-month high while the civil engineering sector is showing signs of recovery, latest Ulster Bank Construction PMI found.

The monthly purchasing managers index found new business expanded at one of the fastest rates in the survey’s history, rises in workloads encouraging further job creation and sentiment regarding the 12-month outlook still elevated.

The PMI, a seasonally adjusted index designed to track changes in total construction activity, rose to 63.6 in May from 61.3 in April. Any reading over 50 is an expansion in activity.