Repair and Maintenance Props Up April Construction Output

Monthly construction output is estimated to have grown by 0.1% in April 2026.

This follows an increase of 1.5% in March 2026, and an increase of 0.5% in February 2026.

The marginal increase in monthly output in April 2026 came solely from an increase in repair and maintenance, which grew by 0.6%, while new work fell by 0.3%.

In the three months to April 2026, total construction output grew by 1.6% – the second consecutive increase in the three-monthly series.

Over the three-month period, both new work, and repair and maintenance, grew by 0.3% and 3.4%, respectively.

At the sector level, six out of the nine sectors grew in the three months to April 2026. The main positive contributor to the increase was non-housing repair and maintenance, which grew by 3.5%.

Challenges Continue

Dr David Crosthwaite, BCIS Chief Economist

Dr David Crosthwaite, Chief Economist at BCIS, commented: “There are several things happening in this latest construction output data.

“First is the notable decline in new work on an annual basis. This points to sustained weak demand and the reduced appetite for new construction, likely as clients and developers wait to see whether macroeconomic conditions improve.

“Declines in new work occurred across sectors, although were most acute in new housing and industrial work. This aligns with broader industry sentiment, where viability considerations continue to weigh heavily on investment and development decisions in these sectors.

“Ongoing discussions around steel tariff quotas, including reports that ministers are reviewing proposed policy changes, underline how sensitive the wider construction industry remains to cost pressures and potential supply chain disruption.

“At the same time, trading updates from some developers continue to highlight many of the same themes: affordability pressures, weak consumer confidence, balance sheet management and capital discipline.

“Against a backdrop of a 0.1% contraction in GDP in April, the output data suggest that conditions for new construction activity remain challenging to say the least.

“Recovery is unlikely to hinge on any single issue being resolved; the industry is contending with a range of interconnected pressures, meaning any improvement is likely to be gradual and vary considerably by sector.”

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