In October, output rose by 2.2% compared with September and by 5.3% compared with a year earlier.
Also out to day, official orders figures for the third quarter were 18% up year-on-year setting the industry on course for further growth next year.
The big gains came from housing and a sharp recovery in commercial orders compared to a year ago.
Noble Francis, Economics Director at the Construction Products Association said: “Unsurprisingly, private housing has been the key driver of recent output growth.
“Demand in the housing market has been boosted by Help to Buy and, as a consequence, output in the sector rose 6.2% in October compared with September and 16.9% compared with a year earlier.
He added: “In addition, output in the largest construction sector, private commercial, rose 0.8% in October compared with September and grew 8.7% compared with a year ago, driven primarily by major projects in London.”
ONS construction figures at a glance
October output
- Construction output in October up 5.3% on a year ago
- New work up 5.1%
- RMI up 5.6%
- Construction output grew 2.2% in October compared with September
- New work up 2.4% (housing up 6.2%; infrastructure 7.5%; industrial down 5.8%)
- RMI up 2.0%
- Construction output in three months from August to October up 2.5% on preceding three months
- New work up 2.8%
- RMI up 2.1%
Third quarter orders
- Q3/Q2 – new orders down 0.2%
- Q3/Q3: 2012 – up 17.8% or £2bn
- The year-on-year rise due to a £1.2bn (41.6%) increase in new housing and a £600m (21.3%) rise in new private commercial.
