Surprise dip in January output figures blamed on Brexit fears

摘要

UK construction output took a surprising dip in January, amid fears the prospect of a potential Brexit after June's EU referendum is already dampening output. Output fell 0.2% in January compared to December, according to the latest set of Office for National Statistics (ONS) statistics for the sector. However, the ONS revised up its estimate for construction output for the fourth quarter of 201S by 0.7 percentage points. The sector is now estimated to have grown by 0.3% over the last three months of last year, rather than contracting by 0.4%. The month-on-month dip in January surprised economists, whose consensus forecast had been for a 0.3% rise in output.