Output for the construction sector shrank in the first quarter, despite a 0.5% increase in output for the economy as a whole.
GDP figures released by the Office of National Statistics yesterday show construction recorded a dramatic fall of 4.7% over the previous quarter.
The size of the drop has raised questions amongst professional in construction who have cast doubt over the accuracy of the statistics.
Construction Products Association Chief Executive, Michael Ankers said: “Today’s GDP estimate includes a fall in construction output of 4.7% in the first three months of the year.”
“The scale of this fall in the official figures is extremely surprising and is not consistent with information from construction industry surveys or the experience of the companies and sectors that the association represents.”
“The indications are that the construction industry performed better in the first three months than the ONS figures suggest.”
Statistics indicate there may still be a long way to go before we can see sustainable growth across the board. Actions may need to be taken to help the growth of the construction sector, which is responsible for almost 10% of GDP the country will struggle to recover from this economic uncertainty