UK Construction Sector Hits Five-and-a-Half-Year Low
Published: 8 hours ago
The UK construction sector experienced its steepest downturn in five-and-a-half years in November 2025. The S&P Global UK Construction PMI fell to 39.4, down from 44.1 in October, with construction output shrinking for the eleventh straight month. All three sub-sectors weakened, with housing falling to 35.4, commercial construction down 43.8 and civil engineering down 30.0. The decline was due to weak client confidence, alongside delayed spending decisions linked to uncertainty ahead of the Budget. New orders decreased to the greatest extent since May 2020, with 44% of survey respondents reporting a fall in new orders. Employment numbers also decreased for the eleventh consecutive month, with the latest fall in staffing levels being the steepest since August 2020. Supplier performance improved solidly, but buying activity fell heavily. Business optimism slipped to its lowest level since December 2022.