Ireland Ulster Bank Construction PMI2013-2021 Data | 2022-2023 Forecast | Calendar

The Ulster Bank Construction PMI in Ireland rose to 30.9 in March 2021 from February's reading of 27.0. However, this was the third straight month of fall in the construction sector, amid the the pandemic-related restrictions. Housing work shrank at a softer rate (33.8 vs 23.8 in February) on the back of a further reduction in both commercial activity (31.3 vs 31.2) and civil engineering work (23.8 vs 19.5). New orders fell at a slower rate, employment continued to decline solidly, and buying activity dropped for the third month running. The twin factors of Brexit and COVID-19 were reportedly responsible for continued severe delays in receiving purchased items, while there were also mentions of capacity pressures at suppliers. On the price front, input cost inflation went up for the third month in a row and was the fastest since February 2018, amid rising costs for shipping and raw materials such as metals. Finally, sentiment hit its highest in 2-1/2 years.

The Ulster Bank Construction PMI in Ireland increased to 27.0 in February 2021 from an eight-month low of 21.2 a month earlier. Both housing activity (23.8 vs 19.0 in January) and commercial works (31.2 vs 24.2) contracted at a softer rate. Meantime, civil engineering activity dropped slightly faster (19.5 vs 19.7). New orders declined for the second month in a row. Also, employment decreased for the second straight month and at a broadly similar pace to that seen in January. This was the case with input buying, too, which fell substantially. Suppliers' delivery times lengthened slightly less than January's survey record, but one that was considerable nonetheless, reflecting Brexit uncertainty; while there were also some mentions of supply-chain disruption due to the pandemic. On the price front, input cost hit its highest in 23 months. Finally, sentiment was at a 12-month high on hopes for recovering demand once the pandemic ends.

The Ulster Bank Construction PMI in Ireland plunged to 21.2 in January 2021, signaling the steepest month of contraction in construction output since May 2020 due to renewed COVID-19 lockdown. Housing activity contracted the most last month (19.0 vs 56.2 in December) followed by sharp declines in commercial activity (24.2 vs 49.7) and civil engineering works (19.7 vs 42.0). New orders fell the most in eight months, ending a three-month sequence of expansion. Also, employment dropped for the first time in four months and to the greatest extent since May 2020; while buying activity shrank the most in eight months. At the same time, suppliers' lead time lengthened at the steepest rate in more than 20 years of data collection. On the price front, input cost inflation rose to the highest since April 2019. Finally, sentiment was only slightly lower than December's ten-month high, supported by vaccine rollouts.

The Ulster Bank Construction PMI in Ireland fell to 53.5 in December 2020 from a 15-month high of 53.5 a month earlier, ahead of the end of the Brexit transition. Still, this was the second straight month of increase, amid particular strength in housing activity, where a third successive monthly increase saw its index pick up to a five-month high (56.2 vs 53.0 in November). Meantime, commercial activity decreased slightly (49.7 vs 50.0) and civil engineering work continued to fall (42.0 vs 44.0). New orders grew for the third month running, only slightly slower than November's 19-month high; while employment rose the most since June 2019. Greater demand was also partly behind a sharp rise in buying levels. Meanwhile, suppliers' delivery times lengthened at the fastest pace in over 20 years of data collection. On the price front, input cost inflation eased to a four-month low but remained sharp. Finally, sentiment for the third straight month, improving to the highest since February.