Construction Output Shows Marginal Gain

There has been a slight increase in the volume of construction work in NI with the closing months of last year seeing a rise of 2.0% - as compared with the second quarter of 2010.

However, the key findings of the latest Northern Ireland Construction Bulletin also showed that the total volume of construction output in the third quarter of 2010 was in fact 11.1% lower compared to the same quarter in 2009 - so things remain in a downward direction overall.

The minor increase in overall construction output was accounted for by slight increases in both new work (0.8%) and repair and maintenance (0.7%).

The previously published decrease in the total volume of construction output from the first quarter of 2010 to the second quarter of 2010 of 5.7% has now been revised to a decrease of 6.1%.

The figures are based on returns from construction firms for the period 1 July to 30 September 2010.

It is published by the Central Survey Unit of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) and is the primary measure of the value of construction output, obtained from the Northern Ireland Quarterly Construction Enquiry (QCE).

This is a statutory survey of construction firms operating in Northern Ireland. Each quarter a sample of construction firms is asked to provide details of the value of construction activity they have undertaken within NI in a specified period.

(BMcC/GK)