Construction output
[edit] Introduction
Construction is an important indicator of how well the economy is performing, which is why construction output figures are used to compile the output aspects of gross domestic product (GDP).
UK construction output is a measure of the amount that has been charged to customers for building and civil engineering work carried out by construction companies in a specific period. This excludes Value Added Tax (VAT) and payments to subcontractors.
The value of the work involved is not a total of all work completed by construction companies in the UK. Rather, it is based on a sample of 8,000 businesses employing over 100 people or with an annual turnover of more than £60m. These estimates are extremely useful and are widely used by private and public sector bodies such as the Treasury, the Bank of England and others.
Measuring construction output is essentially a survey used to produce non-seasonally and seasonally-adjusted monthly, quarterly and annual estimates of output in the construction industry at current prices and at chained volume measures (removing the effect of changes in price).
VAT figures can also provide information about construction output, used to provide data for small- and medium-sized businesses. However, due to the delay in companies submitting their VAT invoices to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), such data is only taken on after a delay period. For example, VAT turnover data for a particular year may be used from figures that were compiled up to two years previously.
New orders are also important in gaining an insight into construction output. For these, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) collects data from the privately contracted Barbour ABI. The figures are used to model the breakdown of the overall output figures for Great Britain.
[edit] What is covered in construction output data?
The following types of work are covered when measuring national construction output, with the year being split into four quarters – Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4.
- Public housing
- Private housing
- Infrastructure (water, sewage, electricity, roads, railways, harbours etc).
- Other public non-housing (factories, warehouses, oil, steel, coal, schools, colleges, universities, health, offices, entertainment, garages, shops, agriculture etc).
- Private industrial (factories, warehouses, oil, steel, coal).
- Private commercial (schools, universities, health, offices, entertainment, garages, shops, agriculture, miscellaneous).
- Total new work
- Information is also available on repair and maintenance across the regions.
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) presents the above data in two tables:
- Table 1: Estimates for the type of work that has been undertaken, non-seasonally adjusted and at current prices at sub-sector (ie, regional) level and
- Table 2: Construction output: value that is non-seasonally adjusted, with current prices at sub-national level.
The accuracy of the figures presented will be affected by changes in the value of orders since the figures were reported (eg, cancellations), and orders that did not convert into output within the timelines stated in the model.
Full can be seen at the ONS website.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Construction 2025.
- Construction industry institutes and associations.
- Construction industry organisation.
- Construction industry reports.
- Construction output and GDP for quarter 4 2019.
- Government construction strategy.
- Statutory consultees.
- Top seven trends that will dominate the future of the construction industry
- UK.
- UK construction industry.
- UK Construction industry occupations by percent.
Featured articles and news
Deputy editor of AT, Tim Fraser, discusses the newly formed society with its current chair, Chris Halligan MCIAT.
Barratt Lo-E passivhaus standard homes planned enmasse
With an initial 728 Lo-E homes across two sites and many more planned for the future.
Government urged to uphold Warm Homes commitment
ECA and industry bodies write to Government concerning its 13.2 billion Warm Homes manifesto commitment.
Places of Worship in Britain and Ireland, 1929-1990. Book review.
The emancipation of women in art.
CIOB Construction Manager of the Year 2025
Just one of the winners at the CIOB Awards 2025.
Call for independent National Grenfell oversight mechanism
MHCLG share findings of Building Safety Inquiry in letter to Secretary of State and Minister for Building Safety.
The Architectural Technology Awards
AT Awards now open for this the sixth decade of CIAT.
50th Golden anniversary ECA Edmundson awards
Deadline for submissions Friday 30 May 2025.
The benefits of precast, off-site foundation systems
Top ten benefits of this notable innovation.
Encouraging individuals to take action saving water at home, work, and in their communities.
Takes a community to support mental health and wellbeing
The why of becoming a Mental Health Instructor explained.
Mental health awareness week 13-18 May
The theme is communities, they can provide a sense of belonging, safety, support in hard times, and a sense purpose.
Mental health support on the rise but workers still struggling
CIOB Understanding Mental Health in the Built Environment 2025 shows.
Design and construction material libraries
Material, sample, product or detail libraries a key component of any architectural design practice.
Construction Products Reform Green Paper and Consultation
Still time to respond as consultation closes on 21 May 2025.
Resilient façade systems for smog reduction in Shanghai
A technical approach using computer simulation and analysis of solar radiation, wind patterns, and ventilation.