April data indicated by far the fastest decline in UK construction output since the survey began 23 years ago. The vast majority of survey respondents (86%) reported a reduction in business activity since March, reflecting widespread site closures and shutdowns across the supply chain in response to the public health emergency. The headline seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/CIPS UK Construction Total Activity Index fell from 39.3 in March to 8.2 in April, to signal a rapid downturn in overall construction output. Moreover, the latest reading was the lowest since data were first collected in April 1997. The previous ... (full story)