According to latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), construction output in Great Britain grew by 0.4% in February 2025.
Official estimates from the ONS say that the turnaround in February follows a downwardly revised decrease of 0.3% in January 2025. It had previously estimated that January鈥檚 decrease was 0.2%.
February鈥檚 increase in monthly output came from increases in both new work (0.3%) and repair & maintenance (0.5%).
Anecdotal evidence from survey returns noted the mixed effects of the weather 鈥� rain and cold temperatures at the start of the month, followed by more settled, warmer weather towards the end of the month.
At the sector level, five out of the nine sectors grew in February 2025; the main contributors to the monthly increase were public other new work, and public housing repair & maintenance, which grew by 4.4% and 4.0%, respectively.
However, the ONS estimates are at odds with the widely-regarded Purchasing Managers Index monthly survey, whose February reading had UK construction activity declining at its fastest rate since May 2020 when the first covid lockdown was in force. [See previous report here.]
And with US tariffs threatening to rock the global economy, any excitement about the ONS seeing growth is likely to be tempered.
Clive Docwra, managing director of property and construction consultant McBains, said: 鈥淎fter two successive monthly falls in output, the industry will breathe a sigh of relief at today鈥檚 figures. However, growth remains sluggish both over the short and medium term and some sectors remain low in terms of new contracts. There will be some concerns that private commercial new work and private housing new work fell by 0.5% and 0.4% respectively.
聽鈥淭he big worry at present is that investors鈥� confidence has been rocked by Trump鈥檚 tariffs and the resulting trade war, which has dented their investment portfolios. Although there鈥檚 no panic, it means many are taking a wait-and-see approach, so riding out the storm will inevitability have an impact on a number of projects being given the green light.
鈥淐ontractors sourcing materials from abroad may also face higher prices, as manufacturers look to pass on costs as a result of being hit by increased tariffs.
鈥淭he only predictable thing about this is that Trump is unpredictable, and so the outlook could change very suddenly, but a cut in interest rates would provide some comfort at this uncertain time.鈥�
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