Statistical Press Release: Northern Ireland Construction Bulletin

Central Survey Unit of the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) today published the latest edition of the Northern Ireland Construction Bulletin.

The primary measure of the value of construction output in Northern Ireland (the Index of Construction) is obtained from the Northern Ireland Quarterly Construction Enquiry (QCE). This is a statutory survey of construction firms operating in Northern Ireland. Each quarter a sample of construction firms is asked to provide details of the value of construction activity they have undertaken within NI in a specified period. The Index uses 2005 as the base year i.e. (2005=100).

This Bulletin provides a measure of the value of construction output in Northern Ireland for the period 1 April to 30 June 2009.

Key findings:

The provisional seasonally adjusted Index of Construction for the period 1 April to 30 June 2009 was 96.2, down 2.5 points on the previous quarter (98.7), and down 6.2 points on the corresponding quarter in 2008 (102.4) The estimated seasonally adjusted value of construction output (at 2005 prices) was £706million, a decrease of 2.5% (£18million) on the previous quarter (£724million) and a decrease of 6.0% (£45million) on the corresponding quarter in 2008 (£751million). (Table 1.7) The latest decrease in the volume of construction output was largely due to a decline in New Work over the quarter which was partially offset by an increase in Repair and Maintenance.

Readers are reminded:

Results, particularly for the latest quarter are provisional and subject to revision, as fuller information becomes available from subsequent returns in future quarters. The figures reported above are based on returns from construction firms for the period April to 30 June 2009;

The publication dates of future QCE releases have been brought forward by two weeks. This will improve the harmonisation of QCE publication dates with those of other economic indices.

The planned publication dates of the next four quarterly Bulletins are now as follows:

Construction Bulletin Date of release
2009 - Quarter 3 20 January 2010
2009 - Quarter 4 21 April 2010
2010 - Quarter 1 21 July 2010
2010 - Quarter 2 20 October 2010

Further information about the content of the bulletin and copies of the Bulletin are available from:

Contact name: Mr Jonathan Harvey
Telephone: (028) 9034 8202
Fax: (028) 9034 8276
E-mail: Jonathan.Harvey@dfpni.gov.uk
Web: http://www.csu.nisra.gov.uk

Notes to editors:

All media queries should be directed to the Department of Finance and Personnel Press Office on 028 9052 7375. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.