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Published: 16/10/2025
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes monthly estimates of the amount of construction output chargeable to customers for building and civil engineering work in Great Britain, split by sector and type of work(1).
Monthly construction output sees slowdown in August
Construction output declined in August 2025, falling by 0.3% on July activity. New work was up by 0.5% on the month, while R&M decreased by 1.6%.
The biggest monthly changes were in private housing R&M, down by 4.3%, and public new housing, up by 3.5%.
On an annual basis, total construction output grew by 1.0% with increases recorded in new work and R&M of 1.2% and 0.7% respectively.
In comparison to August 2024, the greatest new work increases were in public non-housing, which includes health and education projects and was up by 22.5%, and private industrial, up by 21.3%.
The largest year-on-year decrease was in new public housing, which fell by 14.4%.
In R&M, public housing output fell by 11.5% on the year while private housing saw an increase of 5.5%.
| Sector | Output in August 2025 compared with | |
| July 2025 | August 2024 | |
| New work | ||
| Public housing | 3.5% | -14.4% |
| Private housing | 0.2% | 1.2% |
| Infrastructure | 0.9% | 4.3% |
| Public other | 2.9% | 22.5% |
| Private industrial | 1.1% | 21.3% |
| Private commercial | -2.3% | -12.1% |
| All new work | 0.5% | 1.2% |
| Repair and maintenance | ||
| Public housing | 1.7% | -11.5% |
| Private housing | -4.3% | 5.5% |
| Non-housing | 0.3% | -0.2% |
| All R&M | -1.6% | 0.7% |
| All work | -0.3% | 1.0% |
Source: ONS – Construction output in Great Britain, volume, seasonally adjusted, by sector, Table 2a
Source: Construction output in Great Britain, volume, seasonally adjusted, by sector, Table 2a
Dr David Crosthwaite, chief economist at BCIS, said: ‘Uncertainties over next month’s Budget and global trade have shown up in the latest data for construction output and GDP.
‘Construction output declined in August while the wider economy saw minimal growth. Further, what had been reported in July as a 0.2% monthly increase in construction output has subsequently been revised down to no growth.
‘Despite the sluggish conditions, new work activity appears to be ticking over with robust growth recorded in both public non-housing and private industrial output. That said, housing output was a mixed bag with new work growth in public and private housing showing little signs of reaching the volume needed to hit the government’s housebuilding targets.
‘November’s Budget will be a defining moment for the government. Already in its second year of the Parliament, time is running out for its promised building boom and economic reform. With demand and output growth stagnant, it’s paramount the Chancellor’s Budget is used as a vehicle to improve investment conditions.’
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(1) Office for National Statistics – Output in the construction industry - here
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