JCB charges ahead with ‘historic’ electric digger August 20, 2019 JCB marked an “historic moment” in digger manufacturing today, as its new electric version of the iconic yellow digger rolled off the production line. The firm is moving into full production with the construction industry’s first fully electric mini excavator, with 50 machines already having gone out to customers around the world. Read more: JCB [...]
UK construction sector suffers ‘disastrous’ blow as downturn deepens August 2, 2019 The UK’s construction industry activity sank for the fifth time in six months in July as economists all but ruled out a swift turnaround, a closely-followed measure of sector activity revealed today. Output fell for the third month in a row in July, according to IHS Markit’s UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), leaving the [...]
Construction market ‘patience wearing thin’ with Brexit uncertainty July 18, 2019 London’s construction market appears to be losing patience with Brexit uncertainty, as output growth gains speed and workload expectations gather pace for the year ahead. According to a quarterly industry survey by RICS, 14 per cent more respondents reported an increase in construction workloads across London in the second three months of 2019. This is [...]
UK construction sector suffers worst output in 10 years July 2, 2019 Activity in the UK construction sector “dropped like a stone” last month as suffered its steepest fall in output since the height of the financial crisis, according to a closely followed industry index. Construction activity plummeted to its lowest level since April 2009 in June, on the back of the sharpest drop in UK housebuilding [...]
DEBATE: Is the focus on modern methods of construction to increase housebuilding misplaced? June 24, 2019 Is the focus on modern methods of construction to increase housebuilding misplaced? Chris Stanley, housing manager at Concrete Block Association, says YES. The current media excitement around modern methods of construction, particularly modular, is largely a result of favourable public funding schemes. To solve the housing crisis, the government needs a far more considered, holistic [...]
Kier shares plunge on housebuilding unit sale reports June 14, 2019 Shares in construction company Kier plunged more than 30 per cent today following reports that the outsourcer is preparing to sell its housebuilding unit. Shares fell from 205p to 136.28p after it emerged that the embattled firm has been in talks with advisors over selling the business. Read more: Kier shares rally after plummeting on [...]
Kier shares rally after plummeting on profit warning June 5, 2019 The construction outsourcer’s market value fell 41 per cent at the start of the week. Investors fled after Kier Group admitted it would still be in the red at its interim results in September. It had previously said it would pay off its net debt by then. Read more: Kier Group share plummet 40 per [...]
‘Stuck in the ice age’: Construction industry jobs fall at fastest rate in six years June 4, 2019 Britain’s construction industry suffered yet another blow in May, as the sector lost workers at the fastest rate since 2012. Read more: House building props up construction industry The sector remains in the grip of Brexit uncertainty, analysts warned this morning. This has reduced workloads and made firms reticent to replace departing staff, according to [...]
House building props up otherwise struggling construction industry as sector returns to growth May 2, 2019 Britain’s construction industry grew again in April after two months of contraction, driven by the fastest rise in house building so far in 2019. Read more: Eurozone construction sector bounces back in February after weak January The construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) stood at 50.5 in April, compared to 49.7 in March, bouncing back from [...]
‘Wake-up call’: Germany downgrades 2019 economic growth forecast to just 0.5 per cent April 17, 2019 The German government today once again slashed growth predictions for its economy, saying it now foresees a GDP increase of just 0.5 per cent in 2019, compared to the 2.1 per cent it predicted a year ago. Read more: Eurozone manufacturing sector contracts with Germany shrinking fastest Economy minister Peter Altmaier said new car emissions [...]