Construction Output Rises in First Quarter

The Office for National Statistics has published construction data for Q1 2026.

Main points:

• Total construction output is estimated to have grown by 0.4% in Quarter 1 (Jan to Mar) 2026 compared with Quarter 4 (Oct to Dec) 2025; repair and maintenance grew by 3.4%, while new work fell by 1.9%.

• At the sector level, four out of the nine sectors grew in Quarter 1 2026; the main positive contributor to the increase was private housing repair and maintenance, which grew by 4.1%.

• Monthly construction output is estimated to have grown by 1.5% in March 2026, this follows an increase of 0.5%, (revised from 1.0%) in February 2026, and an increase of 0.7%, (revised from 0.5%) in January 2026; anecdotal evidence from businesses suggested notable financial year-end pushes increased output.

• The increase in monthly output in March 2026 came from increases in both new work and repair and maintenance, which grew by 2.0% and 0.8%, respectively.

• Total construction new orders fell by 10.5% (£1,238 million) in Quarter 1 2026 compared with Quarter 4 2025; this quarterly decrease came mainly from private commercial new work and infrastructure new work.

• The annual rate of construction output price growth was 0.8% in the 12 months to March 2026.

Source : ONS

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