Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Phillip Inman and Julia Kollewe

UK construction activity contracts for fourth straight month as costs rise

Houses being constructed.
It’s not all bad news though… According to industry figures from data provider Glenigan, a recovery in housebuilding is already under way. Private housing construction activity rose by 22% on a quarterly basis and 29% when compared with the year before. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

UK building companies have suffered a poor start to the year, with activity contracting for a fourth month in a row in April as new work dried up while cost pressures remained high, according to an industry survey.

Construction firms continued to struggle after two years of depressed activity that industry executives had expected would end with Labour’s election victory last July.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.