News on 04 January 2001
The December BuildOnline/CIPS survey of the UK construction industry was published yesterday, highlighting further growth.
Commercial sector activity continued to grow although the rate of growth fell for the third consecutive month. According to the purchasing manager’s survey, the seasonally-adjusted Commercial Activity Index registered 56.0 in December compared with 56.8the previous month, signaling an expansion of activity levels for the twenty-fourth consecutive month.
Mark Oliver, managing director of BuildOnline, commented: "The dash to install telecommunications and internet infrastructure is driving many of the new orders in UK construction and will mean that the shortage of skilled labour, from carpenters to civil engineers, will continue. It’s also fuelling considerable optimism in the industry which will only last if this surge in activity can be sustained."
