Construction output dips during rainy July, says ONS

Construction output fell by 0.5% in July with wet weather leading to work delays, according to official figures. 

The latest data from the Office for National Statistics said the decrease came after a 1.6% increase in June, with the monthly value in July at £15,546m.

But the fall in monthly output came solely from a 1.3% decrease in repair and maintenance, with new work increasing 0.1%.

The report said anecdotal evidence suggested the effect of heavy rainfall and lower-than-average temperatures in July led to delays in planned work.

There was evidence to indicate a continued slowdown in the housing sector.

At the sector level, five out of the nine sectors saw a fall in July, with the main contributors to the monthly decrease being private housing repair and maintenance, and private housing new work, which decreased 3.9% and 2.2%, respectively.

Alongside the monthly decrease, construction output was flat in the three months to July this year - this came from a 0.3% increase in new work, offset by a 0.4% decrease in repair and maintenance.