At constant (2005) prices, seasonally adjusted, construction output in the second quarter was down 3.9% on the first quarter and 9.5% compared with the same quarter in 2011, according to figures released toady (10 August) in the Statistical Bulletin from the Office for National Statistics.

The volume of all new work fell by 4.6% and repair & maintenance by 2.7% on the first quarter and 12.8% and 2.8%, respectively, compared with the same quarter last year.

Output fell in eight of the nine sectors, with the largest decrease in government spending on new infrastructure, which was down 8.6% in the second quarter compared with the first quarter of this year and 24.8% on last year. Public new work was down 21.2%. Public housingbuilding was down 25% (repair & maintenance down 3.9%). Private housebuilding was down 6.7% (repair & maintenance down 8.5%). The one category that did not fall was non-housing repair & maintenance, up 0.8% on the same quarter last year and 0.1% on the previous quarter.

The Government blames the move of the late May bank holiday to June, the additional bank holiday for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and unseasonal weather. The industry is increasingly blaming government policies.