Activity fell by a record amount in three months to May

Construction output recovered from historic lows in May but is still significantly below pre-covid levels, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics.

Output increased by 8.2% in May compared with April, rising to £8.3bn, though it remains nearly 39% lower than in February before the pandemic struck and the country was put into lockdown.

construction site

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Sites have begun returning to work but output is way down on pre-covid levels

Construction output fell by a record 29.8% in the three months to May, compared with the previous three-month period. This was driven by record falls of 30.3% in new work and 28.9% in repair and maintenance.

Private new housing and private commercial have fallen by 42.5% and 29.5% respectively during the period.

Construction’s increase in May was driven by new housing and repair and maintenance activity with the ONS suggesting more DIY took place during the weeks of lockdown.

Month-on-