Inflation ‘adds £23bn to annual construction output costs’
This is the first time annual construction value has surpassed £200 billion, representing a 15% increase in nominal terms over 2021 output values. According to a Barbour ABI analysis of real versus nominal price indices, the value would have been closer to £181 billion if prices had remained at pre-pandemic levels. According to the construction information specialist, price increases are expected to slow in the second half of this year. It does, however, warn that some product lines, such as insulation, which recently increased by 50%, could see double-digit price increases, reports Construction Journal . “The Bank of England’s decision to raise the base rate to 4% is expected to have a significant impact on the residential sector in 2023, as mortgage holders tighten their belts,” said Barbour ABI chief economist Tom Hall. Furthermore, the UK economy is widely expected to stagnate in the short term as a best-case scenario, which may cause other commercially sensitive secto...