Housing activity saw a renewed fall in June, set against overall growth across the industry led by strong commercial activity, according to the latest PMI figures from S&P Global.
Anecdotal evidence suggested that the expansion in total activity reflected the securing of new contracts during the month. Data on new orders showed a fifth consecutive monthly expansion amid successful tendering and a rise in client activity.
Input costs rose again in June, though only slightly as some suppliers limited price rises in an effort to secure new business. The rate of inflation ticked higher amid rising costs for some raw materials but remained well below the series average.
Andrew Harker, Economics Director at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said: “Continued growth of the UK construction sector in June meant that the sector has recorded sustained expansion throughout the second quarter of the year.
“While there were signs of a slowdown in the latest survey period, most notably around housing activity, firms indicated that a slowdown in new order growth was in part related to election uncertainty. We may therefore see trends improve once the election period comes to an end.
“Moreover, confidence in the year ahead outlook remained strong and firms increased employment to the largest extent in ten months. “In terms of inflation, there remains little sign of cost pressures picking up to any great extent, encouraging firms to expand purchasing activity. Supply-chain conditions also remained favourable.”
