Construction PMI plummets during April
There has been a call for government action to support Britain’s construction sector after a drop in activity of “historic proportions” last month.
The closely-watched IHS Markit/cips UK construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) showed a reading of just 8.2 in April as the coronavirus pandemic forced widespread closures of sites and building suppliers. It was down from 39.3 in March and the lowest since records began in 1997.
The previous low was 27.8, which was recorded at the height of the financial crisis. Any score below 50 means the sector is shrinking.
The PMI reading showed an even more severe decline than those for the hard-hit services and manufacturing sectors and was described by one economist as a “total collapse”.
It came as most builders shut their sites despite those south of the Border being allowed to continue work amid the lockdown, with many citing a lack of materials, for example. In Scotland, only essential building work is allowed.
In response to the latest
PMI reading, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has called for a green light from the UK government to ensure that construction sites can be re-opened safely.
Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said: “To ensure a safe return to work, and fire up construction, the public needs a clear, and joined-up, statement from government that indoor and outdoor construction is safe.” He also said builders need guaranteed access to personal protective equipment, adding: “In the longerterm, construction needs a clear plan for recovery.”