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Published: 20/01/2025
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes monthly estimates of the amount of construction output chargeable to customers for building and civil engineering work in Great Britain, split by sector and type of work.
Construction output increased in November against stagnant economy backdrop
Construction output increased by 0.4% in November 2024 compared with the previous month, according to the latest ONS data. New work output was up by 0.3%, while repair and maintenance (R&M) output increased by 0.5%.
On an annual basis, new work output in November 2024 was up 0.9% on November 2023. R&M output was down 0.7% on the same period.
In new work, there were annual increases in all sectors apart from public housing, with the largest increase seen in private industrial. Infrastructure also declined year on year.
| Sector | November 2024 compared with | |
| October 2024 | November 2023 | |
| New work | ||
| Public housing | 0.8% | -8.0% |
| Private housing | -1.2% | 3.1% |
| Infrastructure | -1.7% | -4.6% |
| Public other | 4.3% | 6.2% |
| Private industrial | 0.9% | 9.5% |
| Private commercial | 3.1% | 1.9% |
| All new work | 0.3% | 0.9% |
| Repair and maintenance | ||
| Public housing | -0.4% | 3.6% |
| Private housing | -0.2% | -7.6% |
| Non-housing | 1.1% | 4.1% |
| All R&M | 0.5% | -0.7% |
| All work | 0.4% | 0.2% |
Source: ONS – Construction output in Great Britain, volume, seasonally adjusted, by sector, Table 2a
Source: ONS – Construction output in Great Britain, volume, seasonally adjusted, by sector, Table 2a
Dr David Crosthwaite, Chief Economist at BCIS, said: ‘Construction output grew by 0.4% in November after falling by 0.3% in October, so marginal growth was evident for construction towards the end of 2024. Growth was seen across both new work and repair and maintenance sectors.
‘While this is positive news, assuming that the numbers aren’t subsequently revised downwards by the ONS, on a quarterly basis growth is flat and both the construction sector and wider economy appear to be stagnating.
‘It’s been an interesting six months since the election and the economic situation has deteriorated fairly rapidly, particularly over last couple of weeks, and in a way that I’m not sure anybody saw coming with the long-term gilt yields hitting a 27-year high.
‘We really need to see the government take some bold steps to boost investment to avoid the economy flatlining any further.’
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