Key Statistics: 27 October 2015

Construction

• The RICS Construction Market Survey for Q3 2015 found construction activity growing in all parts of the UK, with a positive balance of 39% of surveyors reporting a rise in workloads. The Midlands and East Anglia saw the indicated the strongest rises. Private housing and commercial work remain the strongest areas of expansion.
• Demand for permanent construction staff rose strongly in September, according to the KPMG/REC Report on Jobs. Demand for permanent construction staff was higher than the UK average. Demand for temporary staff softened, and was weaker than the all industry average, though remained well above the no-change mark.

Economy

• UK Manufacturing orders suffered their biggest decline in three years during the three months to October, according to the CBI’s industrial trends survey. According to the CBI, domestic demand is easing, adding to exisitng pressures from weak global growth and the strong pound.
• A UK marketing survey, The IPA Bellwether report, suggests that economic confidence eased during the third quarter of 2015. Marketing budgets grew at the weakest rate since 2013; moreover those surveyed were less positive about their industry’s financial prospects. Marketing budgets are often an indicator of firms’ willingness to invest.