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ACTIVITY IN THE Irish construction sector continued to rise during the month of February, according to the Ulster Bank Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index.
Activity has now increased for the past six months.
Housing
On a sectoral basis, the sharpest expansion in activity was again recorded on residential projects.
A further marked increase in commercial activity was registered, while civil engineering activity continued to fall at a sharp pace during the month.
The index – a seasonally adjusted index designed to track changes in total construction activity – registered at 56.2 in February, broadly unchanged from the reading of 56.4 in January but signalling a further sharp rise in activity in the construction sector.
Simon Barry, Chief Economist Republic of Ireland at Ulster Bank said that the index was essentially unchanged in February and remains well above the expansion threshold of 50.
“Indeed, the Construction PMI has been above 50 for six months in a row now – an important sign that recovery in the sector is becoming increasingly well-established. The pick-up in activity is translating into a welcome rise in staffing levels, with the employment index also registering a sixth consecutive monthly expansion in February,” he said.
He said further growth in new orders is reported as better market conditions are generating stronger pipelines of new business.
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No what the country needs is a sustainable building sector constructing 25000 houses a year in the right locations not in a bog in Longford.
Yup, rising house prices is a bad thing. Dublin has lead the economic recovery and building a lot more houses around the Dublin area would lower the cost of living and increase competitiveness. High house prices just mean you pay more for housing. Would be an excellent time for the state to build lots more affordable housing.
Good to see an improvement in construction.
Yes because it’s not like Ann Iverson with housing construction ever did us wrong in the past
Even if theres a small rise, the wages are still too low for most workers and people are still getting let go when projects finish sick of these stupid stories making out that construction is back booming cause it’s far from it thousands are still out of work and those who aren’t have probably had to take a 50% pay cut!
Just what the country needs,another boom in construction!!because it worked out oh so well last time
Do you know the difference in building homes that are needed for people to live in and a bubble?
Yes. Let’s never build anything ever again. To protect the economy…
Yeah, sure we’ll just stop building all together. Anyone who wants a house can move to a ghost estate in the back arse of Leitrim with zero infrastructure and probably no street lights. We also don’t want any of them pesky multi nationals expanding or coming over starting new projects. There’s loads of work in Australia sure, why don’t all our tradespeople just go there?
There are no votes that
I agree Jason. Civil engineering projects should never had stopped. They should have been keeping the sector ticking over during the crash. I’d like to think we’ve learned from the past though and I doubt estates are going to start flying up all over the place before there’s a road network or a school or public transport.
You know what really grinds my gears? When people stop talking mid cen…
Mid century?
Fintan.
People still need houses.
For 7 years we have been building below requirement as the Celtic Tiger excess was worked out.
25-35k houses a year need to be built in Ireland each year just to meet current demand, normal is not the same as a boom.
Exactly Seanie there’s a difference between building to meet demands of a rising population and excess building and lending like what was done before.
Typical! First comment on a positive article is negative. Fintan you must be great Craic altogether to be around.
Right so lads time to book the flights home. Oh right… OK… So this is just being talked up is it? Right so let’s stay where we are.
at least 50% of new housing built is dispersed bungalows – which is a long term ticking time bomb for the country
Its not about quantity – it is about what and where – we should have learnt this from the Celtic tiger
The breakfast rolls will be flying out the shop doors again
I for one welcome a new bubble, sure what’s the worst that could happen, at least we’d have a bit of fun for few years again, and then after something to talk about for another decade or so
have your say