Northern Ireland construction industry output drops

Image source, Getty Images

  • Author, Clodagh Rice
  • Role, 91热爆 News NI Business Correspondent

Construction industry output in Northern Ireland fell by almost 6% in the three months to June, according to official figures.

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) says the total volume of construction output was 1.5% lower than the same period in 2018.

The fall was driven by an 11% decrease in housing, a 6% drop in repair and maintenance work and a 2.8% fall in new work between March and June.

The only growth was in infrastructure.

Overall the Northern Ireland economy grew by 0.3% in the three months to the end of June, the official figures show.

That growth was driven by services, production and public sector growth, offsetting the fall in construction.

In contrast, UK gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.2% in the quarter but 1.3% in the year to June 2019.

Output in Northern Ireland is still about 4% lower than peak 2007 levels, whereas UK output is 12% higher.

That suggests the Northern Ireland economy has been much slower to recover from the recession in 2008.