The Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) is the leading provider of cost and carbon data to the UK built environment. Over 4,000 subscribing consultants, clients and contractors use BCIS products to control costs, manage budgets, mitigate risk and improve project performance. If you would like to speak with the team call us +44 0330 341 1000, email contactbcis@bcis.co.uk or fill in our demonstration form
Published: 15/12/2025
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 October
Construction output declined in October 2025, falling by 0.6% on September activity. New work was down by 0.7% on the month, while R&M decreased by 0.6%.
The biggest monthly changes were in private industrial new work, up by 7.6%, and public housing R&M, up by 2.8%.
On an annual basis, total construction output grew by 0.9%. New work increased by 1.9% in the 12 months ending in October 2025 while R&M fell by 0.6%.
In comparison to October 2024, the greatest new work increases were in public non-housing, which includes health and education projects and was up by 27.4%, and private industrial, up by 20.9%.
The largest year-on-year decrease was in new public housing, which fell by 11.3%.
In R&M, public housing output fell by 6.9% on the year while private housing saw an increase of 2.8%.
| Sector | Output in October 2025 compared with | |
| September 2025 | October 2024 | |
| New work | ||
| Public housing | -0.5% | -11.3% |
| Private housing | -2.4% | 0.2% |
| Infrastructure | -0.1% | 0.7% |
| Public other | -0.3% | 27.4% |
| Private industrial | 7.6% | 20.9% |
| Private commercial | -2.2% | -6.4% |
| All new work | -0.7% | 1.9% |
| Repair and maintenance | ||
| Public housing | 2.8% | -6.9% |
| Private housing | -1.1% | 2.8% |
| Non-housing | -0.9% | -1.8% |
| All R&M | -0.6% | -0.6% |
| All work | -0.6% | 0.9% |
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: ‘Construction output, as expected, declined in October. The latest data follow a rather lacklustre set of results for the sector in the third quarter and speak to the weight of client uncertainty and stalled decision-making ahead of November’s Budget.
‘Some sectors did experience annual growth, chiefly public non-housing and private industrial new work, but this wasn’t enough to put construction activity on an upward trajectory. 2026 will bring fresh challenges for the sector, including higher labour costs in April. However, there will be opportunities for growth too, with regulatory reform and public sector infrastructure investment promising to lift confidence and investor interest in the months ahead.’
To keep up to date with the latest industry news and insights from BCIS, register for our newsletter here.
(1) Office for National Statistics – Output in the construction industry - here
Share on social media
