UK construction activity records December decline

The purchasing manager index of activity in the UK construction sector unexpectedly fell to 59.2 in December from 60.5 in November, the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply said today.

In the last quarter of 2003, growth in the UK construction sector was the sharpest since the second quarter of 2000. Any reading above 50 indicates growth and the index has now stayed above the 50 watershed point for almost five years now.

In December, the sub-index for new orders rose to 61.0 ,the highest since July 2001, while the employment index slipped to 55.2 from 55.5 in November.

Irish building firms with a large interest in the British construction industry include CRH, Heitons and the Grafton group.