Activity in Irish construction rises at fastest pace in eight months during January
Staff Writer |
The Irish construction sector made a strong start to 2018, posting faster increases in activity, new orders and employment, as well as seeing confidence improve again.
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Meanwhile, input costs rose to the greatest extent in 11 years.
The Ulster Bank Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) – a seasonally adjusted index designed to track changes in total construction activity – rose to 61.4 in January from 58.0 in December.
The latest reading signalled a substantial monthly increase in total activity, and the fastest since May 2017.
Activity has risen continuously since September 2013, with panellists mainly linking the latest expansion to the securing of new contracts.
For the second month running, activity rose across all three monitored categories of construction as civil engineering continued its recent recovery.
In fact, activity on civil engineering projects increased sharply in January.
Steep expansions in activity were recorded again in the housing and commercial subsectors, with commercial posting the strongest growth at the start of 2018.
Confidence among clients regarding economic conditions resulted in further growth of new orders in January.
Moreover, the rate of expansion quickened to a six-month high.
Rising workloads led construction firms to increase their staffing levels again, the fifty-third consecutive month in which that has been the case.
The rate of job creation was sharp and the fastest since last August.
In line with the trends in activity, new orders and employment, the rate of expansion in input buying accelerated at the start of the year.
The increase in demand for inputs imparted pressure on suppliers.
This, combined with a shortage of materials caused a further lengthening of delivery times.
The latest deterioration in vendor performance was the sharpest in five months.
January data pointed to a sharp and accelerated monthly increase in input costs, with the latest increase the fastest since January 2007.
A number of panellists mentioned that suppliers had raised their prices, while higher costs for fuel and labour were also reported.
Business sentiment strengthened for the second consecutive month.
Confidence reflected expected improvements in conditions both in the wider economy and construction industry itself, as well as the prospect of further increases in new contracts.
More than 53% of panellists forecast a rise in activity over the coming year. ■