The recent soft patch for UK construction output continued during March. Another fall in commercial work and civil engineering activity more than offset a modest upturn in residential building. New business and employment numbers increased only slightly at the end of the first quarter, reflecting subdued underlying demand and delays to decision-making among clients. Adjusted for seasonal influences, the headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Total Activity Index posted 49.7, up fractionally from 49.5 in February but still below the 50.0 no-change threshold. The sustained decline in total ... (full story)