Housebuilding activity drags construction recovery, new report shows

The survey highlighted that 87% of Irish building firms are expecting to be as busy or busier in 12 months’ time, which is an improvement on 82% recorded last December. Picture: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Housebuilding activity increased slightly in March, but remains in contraction territory, slowing the overall recovery of the construction industry which has battled several economic challenges in the last three years.

The latest BNP Paribas Real Estate Ireland Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) also showed that confidence among builders last month faltered compared with the mood recorded in February, as average input costs rose again.