The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported falls in construction output for Q4 of 2014 and Q1 of 2015, suggesting that the construction industry has technically entered recession.
However, the Construction Products Association (CPA) has pointed out that the official data contradicts a growing body of recent evidence from itself and other industry sources. Several independent organisations, including Experian and Markit /CIPS, have similarly reported growth in construction activity. These findings were reinforced last week by the Bank of England, which published its latest Inflation Report highlighting concerns with the comparative figures.
The CPA originally wrote to the ONS to raise this issue following the release, in April, of the original Q4 estimate. The CPA and ONS met in early May, and are currently working together to address this matter.