Home improvements underpinning construction recovery, says FMB

Private home maintenance and repair work increased by 35.% in the three months to August, according to ONS construction output data. This rise is a major contribut the recovery of the construction industry, but there is further to go says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

The ONS data is backed up by the FMB’s own State of Trade Survey which tracks the experience of small to medium-sized firms in the building industry. 

This research showed that almost half of builders (47%) reported increased workloads in the summer months, and almost as many (42%) predict higher workloads in the autumn. More than three quarters (78%) of builders said they expect material costs to increase over the next two months. 

Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said: “A busy summer of home upgrades has been a welcome boost for the building industry but growing concerns about the strength of the economy might affect consumer confidence. The latest State of Trade data from the FMB shows that 4 in 5 builders are predicting material costs to increase in the months ahead. Given growing Brexit concerns it will be important that the Government works with the industry to ensure that supply chains aren’t disrupted. Any future delays and increase in costs would impact on the scope for the industry to ‘build, build, build’ our way to recovery.”

14 October 2020