The seasonally adjusted estimate of construction output in January 2014 has risen by 1.8% (£170million) compared with December 2013, according to figures published today by the Office for National Statistics. There was a slight rise of 0.8% (£50million) in new work and a larger increase of 3.5% (£120million) in repair & maintenance.

Longer term comparisons show an even better picture of construction output. Compared with January last year output was up 5.4% (£490million). A similar story is apparent across the different types of work, where new work has increased by 5.9% (£330million) and repair and maintenance by 4.5% (£160million) over the period.

The second estimate of GDP for Q4 2013 published on 28 February 2014 included an estimate of construction growth of 0.2%. This has been revised down in the latest figures to a fall of 0.2% due to a refinement to the seasonal pattern in the monthly series.

New orders for construction in Q4 2013 are estimated to be 1.5% higher than in Q3 due to a 5.2% (£200million) increase in orders for new housing. Overall orders fell 0.4% due to a 22.2% (£590million) decrease in orders for infrastructure.