Category Archives: Resources

The industry returned to growth in January with the strongest increase since September 2012, buoyed by strong demand and new business.

Output fell for the third month in a row in January, with contraction in all three sub-sectors – commercial, housing and civil engineering – for the first time since summer 2012.

The industry experienced growth for the second month in a row, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index, with production reaching a 16-month high in January.

Activity in the building industry suffered the fastest rate of contraction since June last month, according to the Purchasing Managers’ Index.

The industry returned to growth in December with the best result for 15 months, according to the Purchasing Managers’ Index.

“Growth of business activity in the services sector ground almost to a halt in November,” said Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit.

New order volumes in the construction sector have fallen at the steepest rate in more than three years, showing little sign of improvement for the year ahead.

Production rose for the first time in five months in November, but exports continued to deteriorate, with job cuts reported for the fourth month running.