Construction output fell by 0.4% in volume terms in October after a feeble rise of 0.1% in September.
The decrease in monthly activity came solely from a fall in repair and maintenance of 1.3%, as new work edged forward by 0.2%.
At the sector level, both commercial and industrial new work showed stronger growth of 1.7% and 2.4%, but a big monthly fall private housing repair and maintenance of 3.8% acted as a drag on construction as a whole.
The three-month trend figures for construction still remain in positive territory the industry recording 0.4% in the three months to October 2024.
This came solely from an increase in new work of 1.7%, as repair and maintenance fell by 1.2%.
Scott Motley, head of programme, project and cost management at AECOM: “A downturn in output comes as no surprise as we head into the winter months and begin to see the true impact the Autumn Budget has had on short-term decision making.
“As firms look ahead to next year’s pipeline of work, they will be encouraged by the changes announced to the National Planning Policy Framework in a bid to unlock future development.
“Combined with interest rates taking a further drop, the outlook for new infrastructure and housing projects in 2025 looks brighter than it has for a number of years.”
FIXEDD