Key Statistics: 18th June 2013

Construction

• Construction industry output volume in April was 1.1% lower than in April 2012, on a non-seasonally adjusted basis the volume of output in April was 6.5% lower than in March this year. Since March falls were recorded across all sectors of the industry with the exception of private housing, which saw new work and repair and maintenance increase by 3.6% and 0.4% respectively.
• Overall repair and maintenance declined by 9.7% from March, led by falls of 22% in infrastructure and 19% in public housing repair, maintenance and improvement.
• House prices as measured by the RICS house price balance showed the largest increase for nearly three years in May, the +5 balance was the strongest reading since June 2010 which also recorded a reading of +5.

UK Economy

• Industrial production in April fell 0.6% compared to April 2012 and manufacturing fell by 0.5% in the same time period. The fall in manufacturing comes from chemicals and chemical products, rubber and plastic products and food, beverages and tobacco.
• The UK jobs market remained relatively unchanged in the February to April period, the employment rate was 71.5% down 0.1% point from the November 2012 to January 2013 period, but still up 0.7% points from the same period a year ago.
• The unemployment rate was 7.8% unchanged from the previous November to January period, but down 0.4% points from a year ago.
• Total pay rose 1.3% compared to February and regular pay rose by 0.9% over the same period.