CASE STUDY //
UK construction bounces back With the ONS revising its dip in construction output in 2020 to a fall of 14% and the CPA forecast for a growth this year of 13.7%, it seems that the UK industry continues to bounce back. On the downside, there is the shortage of materials and skilled labour followed with the inevitable rise in costs connected with these shortages.
By Phil Slinger - CAB Chief Executive
30 | September 2021
It should come as no surprise that 65% of CAB members on balance have stated increases in sales of over 5% during the last year and in the second quarter of 2021, with a record 90% of members on balance expecting sales to increase further in the next quarter. This is tempered with 15% of members stating that they have experienced a loss in sales over the last year with a further 20% stating that they have experienced the same or less than 5% increase in sales over the period. Costs have generally increased in all areas with 80% of members on net balance stating that costs have risen in the past quarter. These increases generally fall in line with the rest of the construction industry. On balance 90% of members forecast further increases with 97% of the wider construction industry bracing themselves for further price increases. Critical costs have increased across the board with wages, energy costs and fuel costs increasing, with increased raw material costs being claimed by 90% of net balance of members as being the most influential.
