Construction activity ground to a halt in January due to the Covid lockdown, ending a two-month sequence of growth. The Ulster Bank construction purchasing managers’ index (PMI) shows while the pace of contraction was not as severe as in April and May of last year during the first lockdown, activity fell to 21.1 from 52.3 in December. The falls in commercial and civil engineering activity were the strongest since April and May last year respectively. The fall ended a three-month sequence of expansion and was the sharpest in eight months. Staffing levels and purchasing activity also fell sharply during the month.

Source: The Irish Times February 08, 2021 04:45 UTC