According to the report from IHS Markit/CIPS, latest PMI data signalled another sharp increase in UK construction activity at the end of the third quarter. The expansion came amid the sharpest rise in new business since before the pandemic-induced lockdown, with firms increasing their purchasing activity at the quickest pace for nearly five years. Meanwhile, employment continued to fall, but the rate of job shedding eased. Looking forward, sentiment towards future activity was the strongest for seven months.

The headline seasonally adjusted UK Construction Total Activity Index registered 56.8 in September, up from 54.6 in August. Any figure above 50.0 indicates growth of total construction output. The latest reading pointed to a reacceleration in the rate of activity growth and a sharp increase overall.