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House builders see output climb in Q3, says ONS
12/11/10
Edited by Bob Witham.Builders' output of both public and private sector housing increased during the third quarter of the year compared with the previous three months, official figures have shown.
The volume of private residential property work was up three per cent between July and September, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Compared with the corresponding period of last year, it was 23 per cent higher, it said.
Meanwhile, new housing construction in the public sector was up seven per cent in the third quarter.
It was also 48 per cent higher year-on-year and overall output was at the highest level since April to June 1980.
The ONS noted that construction activity in this sector has now risen for six consecutive quarters.
Overall output in the building industry was up four per cent in the three months to the end of September compared to the figure for April to June.
The upbeat ONS figures contrast with a report from the Construction Products Association (CPA), which showed a balance of 22 per cent of contractors reported a decline in output during the third quarter.
CPA economics director Noble Francis said the organisation's figures show builders still face "extremely challenging" conditions.
