UK construction companies recorded a sustained rebound in business activity during December, with housebuilding leading the way. This is according to the latest PMI data compiled by IHS Markit.
Stronger order books helped to drive the recovery across the construction sector, with survey respondents often citing work on projects that had been delayed earlier in 2020.
Higher levels of demand led to a slight rise in employment numbers and greater demand for construction inputs in December.
However, stretched supply chains and delays at UK ports resulted in longer delivery times and the fastest rate of input cost inflation since April 2019.
The headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Total Activity Index posted 54.6 in December, little-changed from 54.7 in November and above the crucial 50.0 no-change threshold for the seventh consecutive month.
Increased construction activity primarily reflected another sharp rise in housebuilding during December (index at 61.9).
Commercial activity also expanded (51.2), but the rate of growth eased to its lowest since the recovery began last June.
Total new orders increased at a strong pace in December, which extended the current period of expansion to seven months.
Survey respondents noted improving client demand, alongside a boost from new business wins on construction projects that had been deferred at the start of the pandemic.
Rising workloads contributed to a sharp increase in purchasing activity at the end of 2020, with the rate of expansion holding close to November’s six-year high.
Some construction companies also cited efforts to bring forward input buying due to concerns about longer lead times among suppliers.
Purchasing prices increased at the steepest pace for just under two years, reflecting supply shortages and strong demand for construction inputs.
Survey respondents often cited rising prices for timber and steel.
December data indicated a return to jobs growth in the construction sector, although the rate of expansion was only marginal.
Additional staff hiring reflected forthcoming new projects and improved confidence about the business outlook.
Exactly half of the survey panel (50%) forecast a rise in business activity over the course of 2021, while only 10% anticipate a decline, which signalled the strongest optimism across the construction sector since April 2017.
Tim Moore, Economics Director at IHS Markit, which compiles the survey:
“December data illustrated a positive end to the year for the UK construction sector, mostly fuelled by a sharp rebound in housebuilding.
“Overall output growth has slowed in comparison to the catch-up phase last summer, but now it is encouraging to see the recovery driven by new projects and stronger underlying demand.
“A sustained improvement in construction order books resulted in a rise in employment numbers for the first time in nearly two years and the most optimistic growth expectations since April 2017.
“Construction companies are hopeful that higher demand will broaden out beyond residential projects in the next 12 months, led by infrastructure spending and a potential rebound in new commercial work from the depressed levels seen during the pandemic.
“Transport delays and a lack of stock among suppliers were the main difficulties reported by UK construction firms at the end of 2020, which contributed to the fastest rise in purchasing prices for nearly two years.”
