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Newsflash: UK construction output has fallen at the fastest pace for six years, as builders were hit by higher energy, fuel and transportation costs.

Data firm S&P Global has reported that output in all three subsectors within construction – housebuilding, commercial work and civil engineering – posted sharp declines during May.

“UK construction companies reported a steep downturn in business activity during May, with the speed of contraction accelerating to its fastest for six years. House building remained especially subdued, and there were fresh challenges in the construction sector from a considerable softening of commercial activity since April.

“Anecdotal evidence suggested that economic uncertainty and rising inflation in the wake of the Middle East conflict had triggered the steepest drop in new work since the beginning of the pandemic. Elevated borrowing costs were also reported to have impacted market conditions.

Britain’s car buyers are responding to a market offering more choice than ever, from both new and familiar brands, resulting in a robust May. The EV transition is progressing, but consumer uptake still lags behind even today’s targets, let alone the ambition set out in the latest Carbon Budget.

While industry shares the long-term ambition, the pathway to Net Zero must be credible. It cannot come at the cost of lost competitiveness and deindustrialisation. A review of the transition is now urgent to ensure ambition matches market realities and we have a sustainable path to road transport decarbonisation.

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