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

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.

The Ulster Bank Construction PMI in Ireland jumped 50 53.5 in November 2020 from 48.6 in October, expanding for the first time in four months and hitting the highest reading since August 2019, amid hopes that 2021 would see an end to the pandemic and recovery in demand and activity. Housing activity grew for the second month running and at a solid pace (53.0 vs 50.3 in October) and commercial activity stabilized (50 vs 46.7) while civil engineering work continued to fall (44 vs 43.5). New orders expanded the most since April 2019, rising for the second month in a row; staffing levels rose for the second straight month and at the fastest rate in ten months; and firms ramped up their buying activity, with input buying increasing substantially, and one that was the steepest since April 2019. Meanwhile, input cost rose markedly, and at a faster pace than the series average. Finally, sentiment strengthened, reaching the strongest since before the pandemic.

The Ulster Bank Construction PMI in Ireland was at 48.6 in October 2020, up from 47.0 a month earlier, rising for the second month running as activity neared stabilization, with housing construction increasing for the first time in three months (50.3 vs 44.1 in September). Meanwhile, further reductions were seen in activity on commercial (46.7 vs 49.2) and civil engineering projects (43.5 vs 44.2). New orders expanded for the first time in three months and staffing levels posted an outright growth for the first time in eight months. Also, buying levels went up for the first time since July and at the fastest rate since May 2019. Suppliers' delivery times continued to lengthen, and to a marked extent that was the sharpest in three months. As for prices, input cost inflation remained sharp and was little-changed from September's 17- month high. Finally, sentiment remained relatively subdued amid widespread concerns about the potential for further pandemic disruption.