UK construction companies indicated a loss of momentum at the end of 2024 with total business activity expanding at the slowest pace since June, while new order growth moderated for the third month running.
The headline S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) registered 53.3 in December, down from 55.2 in November and the lowest for six months. However, the index has posed above the 50.0 no-change value since March 2024 and the latest reading still signalled a solid upturn in overall construction output.
Index breakdown
Commercial activity was the fastest-growing area of the construction sector in December (index at 55.0), followed by civil engineering (52.9). However, both categories saw a slowdown in the rate of business activity expansion since November.
Residential work was again the only category to register an overall decline in output during December (47.6), showing that house building activity has now decreased for three consecutive months, with the latest reduction being the fastest since June 2024.
Survey respondents noted that subdued demand conditions, elevated borrowing costs and weak consumer confidence had all weighed on activity.
Slow new work
Mirroring the trend for output volumes, total new work also expanded at the slowest rate since last June. Anecdotal evidence suggested that improving tender opportunities in the commercial building sector had been offset by cutbacks to residential development projects and a lack of new business to replace completed infrastructure work.
Construction companies responded to weaker new order growth by reducing their input buying for the first time in eight months. In some instances, lower levels of purchasing activity were linked to tighter inventory management. Suppliers’ delivery times were broadly unchanged in December. While some firms noted improving vendor performance due to lower demand, there were also reports that shipping delays had led to longer lead times for imported items.
Decline in sub-contractor usage
December data highlighted a decline in sub-contractor usage for the fourth time in the past five months. Despite lower demand for their services, sub-contractor availability improved only marginally and at the slowest pace since March 2023.
Meanwhile, latest data indicated the fastest rise in rates charged by sub-contractors for 20 months. Adding to upward pressure on input costs, purchase prices increased at a robust pace that was only slightly softer than November’s one-and-a-half-year high. Elevated cost inflation and rising salary payments were again cited as factors holding back staff hiring. The pace of job creation remained lower than the prepandemic average.
2025 outlook
Looking ahead, around 48% of the survey panel predict a rise in output over the course of 2025, while only 15% forecast a decline. The degree of positive sentiment picked up sharply since November, but it was still much weaker than seen in the first half of 2024. While construction firms typically commented on optimism linked to long-term business expansion plans, many also cited worries about the general UK economic outlook and tighter budgets for capital spending.
Industry reaction
Brendan Sharkey, real estate and construction specialist at MHA, commented: “The fall in construction PMI is hardly surprising as the industry continues to benefit from the government’s investment in infrastructure but at the same time is hampered by still historically high interest rates and an uptick in employment costs.
“Activity in the commercial sector remains strong, but housing has dipped. Whether the housing market will see a reversal in fortunes this year remains to be seen, however the opportunity to develop is clearly there given the planning reforms included in the recent NPPF. Overall, the construction industry has been relatively resilient in 2024 compared to other industrial sectors. Demand for construction is very much on a domestic level, whereas manufacturing and other industrial sectors are reliant on the global economy.
“From what our clients are telling us, 2025 is expected to be better than last year; however, it’ll be a slow burn. Infrastructure will do well given the government’s investment plans as will commercial as the UK is becoming an investment choice for many. Housing supply will be available but it’s whether demand will follow if interest rates remain stubbornly high.
“While high interest rates and increasing labour costs will continue to have an impact on the industry, an increased flow of inward investment should provide some relief.
“We expect that construction PMI will hover around the same level as it is currently for much of 2025, and any spikes are likely to be short-lived. Although growth will be slow and steady the fundamentals for the sector are solid and there is an air of quiet optimism.”
