According to the latest figures released, the total UK construction output fell 4.7 per cent during the three months till April mainly due to a sharp fall in public sector and commercial work.

The figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that the total output was 1.1 per cent lower in April than the same month of the previous year in volume terms, which is its lowest decline since November 2011 indicating that the sector is gradually improving. Experts say that monthly data is largely volatile and not seasonally adjusted but said that the there are signs that the sector is recovering.

The fall is mainly due to a 17.3 per cent fall in public sector work and a 8.8 per cent drop in commercial work. The repair and maintenance work recorded a fall of 2.8 per cent in during the period compared to the same quarter of the previous year as private housing repair and maintenance fell 7.5 per cent compared to the previous period. The overall repair and maintenance decreased by 9.7per cent as the sector recorded falls in infrastructure and public housing repair and maintenance.