August data indicated a continued strong recovery in UK construction output, driven by sharp rises in housing, commercial and civil engineering activity. A sustained upturn in workloads and widespread confidence towards the business outlook resulted in another rapid upturn in employment numbers. Greater demand for staff also contributed to a survey-record decline in sub-contractor availability, as well as the steepest rise in rates charged by sub-contractors since the survey began in April 1997. At 64.0 in August, up from 62.4 in July, the seasonally adjusted Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index® ... (full story)