The national construction sector recorded its strongest reading in almost three and a half years in September following a return to growth in the house building and apartment building sub-sectors. Despite the encouraging 3.9 points lift to 47.6, the Australian Industry Group/Housing Industry Association Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®) remained shy of the critical 50 points break even mark. In September, growth in new orders drove an expansion in activity for the first time since April 2010. The activity sub- index was 8.0 points higher than the previous month and at 51.9 ends forty ... (full story)