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UK construction suffered shock fall in September down to lowest levels since Brexit referendum UK construction suffered shock fall in September down to lowest levels since Brexit referendum
(35 minutes later)
Britain's builders suffered a shock fall in September, taking levels of construction activity down to the lowest levels since the June 2016 Brexit vote, according to the latest survey snapshot of the sector. Britain's builders suffered a shock in September, taking levels of construction activity down to the lowest levels since the June 2016 Brexit vote, according to the latest survey snapshot of the sector.
The Purchasing Managers' Index slumped to 48.1, below the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction.The Purchasing Managers' Index slumped to 48.1, below the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction.
City of London analysts had anticipated a PMI reading of around 51.
It was the first time the index has been in negative territory since a sharp plunge immediately following the EU referendum result.It was the first time the index has been in negative territory since a sharp plunge immediately following the EU referendum result.
“Respondents pointed to obstructive economic conditions and the Brexit blight of uncertainty, freezing clients into indecision over new projects," said Duncan Brock of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply.“Respondents pointed to obstructive economic conditions and the Brexit blight of uncertainty, freezing clients into indecision over new projects," said Duncan Brock of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply.
Sterling slipped in the wake of the data, trading down 0.23 per cent on the day at $1.3245, as traders adjusted bets on a Bank of England rate hike in November. Sterling slipped in the wake of the data, trading down 0.23 per cent on the day at $1.3245, as traders pared back their major bets of recent weeks on a Bank of England rate hike in November.
According to the PMI Civil engineering work suffered the sharpest drop since April 2013 and commercial development projects had the worst month since February 2013. According to the PMI, civil engineering work suffered its sharpest drop since April 2013 and commercial development projects had the worst month since February 2013.
House builders saw growth, but it was also the weakest in six months. Markit, which compiles the survey, also reported that confidence in the industry was at its weakest in four years.
According to the most recent estimate from the Office for National Statistics, construction output fell by 0.5 per cent in the second quarter, following a 1.9 per cent surge in the first three months of the year. "The Government’s shift to a more accommodating stance in Brexit talks has done little to convince builders that clients will sanction delayed projects soon," said Samuel Tombs of Pantheon.
The building sector accounts for around 6 per cent of UK GDP. According to the most recent estimate from the Office for National Statistics, construction output fell by 0.5 per cent in the second quarter, following a 1.9 per cent surge in the first three months of the year.
More follows… Another quarter of contraction will put the building sector back into a technical recession.
  The construction sector accounts for around 6 per cent of UK GDP.
The overall economy grew by just 0.3 per cent in the second quarter of 2017, the weakest growth rate of the G7 nations.