Ireland Ulster Bank Construction PMI2013-2020 Data | 2021-2022 Forecast | Calendar

The Ulster Bank Construction PMI in Ireland plunged to 4.5 in April 2020, down from 28.9 in the previous month and by far the lowest since the survey began in June 2000, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown introduced to prevent its spread. There was a sharp contraction in all categories: housing activity (4.9 vs 32.4 in March); commercial activity (3.1 vs 28.2); and and civil engineering works (5.2 vs 25.2). Overall new orders and employment fell the most since the survey began 20 years ago. Meanwhile, suppliers' delivery times lengthened at a record pace. On the price front, input cost fell for the first time since August 2013, and at the fastest pace in over a decade. Finally, construction firms remained pessimistic regarding the 12-month outlook for output amid expectations that the impact on the economy of COVID-19 would be prolonged.

The Ulster Bank Construction PMI plunged to 28.9 in March 2020 from 50.6 in the previous month, pointing to the sharpest contraction in the sector in 11 years due to coronavirus outbreak and associated containment measures. Civil engineering activity saw the steepest rate of decline, followed by commercial building work and residential activity. Overall new orders fell the most since April 2009 due to the cancellation of projects and company shutdowns, and employment dropped at the fastest pace in over nine years, ending a 6-1/2 year sequence of job creation. At the same time, suppliers' delivery times lengthened the most since the survey began almost 20 years ago. On the price front, input cost inflation eased to a six-month low, amid shortages of materials. Looking ahead, business sentiment hit its lowest since January 2009.

The Ulster Bank Construction PMI dropped to 50.6 in February 2020 from 50.9 in January. The latest reading pointed to the 3rd straight expansion in the construction sector but the weakest in the current sequence, as commercial activity increased at a softer pace (52.1 vs 55.7 in January) while both housing activity (49.7 vs 48.0) and civil engineering (42.7 vs 44.4) declined less. New orders increased for the 3rd month but at a softer pace. Meantime, employment grew the least since last October, though the growth was sustained in each month throughout the past 6-1/2 years. Average lead times lengthened markedly, and to the greatest extent for seven months, generally reflected stormy weather but there were some incidences of delays caused by the outbreak of coronavirus in China. On the price front, input cost inflation accelerated to a three-month high, amid higher prices for raw materials. Lastly, sentiment eased from January's one-year high.

The Ulster Bank Construction PMI dropped to 50.9 in January 2020 from 52.0 in the prior month. The latest reading pointed to the second consecutive expansion in the construction sector, still at a softer pace. Commercial activity increased to an 11-month high (55.7 vs 53.6 in December) and civil engineering shrank at the weakest rate in eight months (44.4 vs 43.1) while housing activity fell into contraction territory (48.0 vs 51.8). New order growth accelerated to a seven-month high, amid improving market conditions and reduced Brexit uncertainty, and employment rose at the steepest pace since June last year, extending the current sequence of job creation to 6-1/2 years. Also, buying activity went up for the second month in a row. On the price front, input cost inflation slowed to a four-month low. Lastly, sentiment improved to a one-year high driven by expectations of strong pipelines of new work.