Northern Ireland Construction Output Statistics show a 6.5% increase in 1Q15 q/q and 13.8% y/y. This is the highest level of construction output reported for three years. The rise is attributed both New Work and an increase in Repair & Maintenance. Infrastructure Output was up 9.6%; Housing Output decreased by 4.6% and Other Work Output (e.g. the construction of non-housing stock, such as office blocks and hotels) increased by 18.7%.
The level of construction output for Northern Ireland in 1Q15 was at 99.8% of the average output reported in 2011, while in Great Britain it was at 103.2% of the average output reported in 2011.
The Irish News quotes comments from Dr Esmond Birnie of PwC, who said that the findings were to be welcomed, but that they didn’t tally with other surveys on the state of the industry. He added that the data was not accompanied by an increase in construction jobs. He cautioned that it is advisable to wait and see if this increased output becomes a long-term trend.
Adapted from press release by Katherine Guenioui
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