Building work on rise again

CONSTRUCTION work has spiked for a second straight quarter, far outpacing market expectations, but economists suggest the numbers could flatter to deceive.

The value of construction work done jumped to $61.9 billion in the three months to September, up 15.7 per cent from the previous quarter, according to official figures.

It was mainly bolstered by a 33 per cent surge in the value of engineering work, including mines, roads and bridges, to $34.2 billion.

Total building work on homes and non-residential buildings fell 0.4 per cent to $27.6 billion in the quarter, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The market had expected a decline in overall construction work of 2.3 per cent following a 9.8 per cent rise in the three months to June.