TRACKER DECEMBER 2015

摘要

The construction activity index expanded by 10 points on a monthly basis in December to reach 57 points, recovering from the previous month's low and increasing the three-month moving average to 52. This was its first visit into positive territory in five months. The repair and maintenance (R&M) indicator increased to 49; nevertheless this is the third month in a row where it has been below 50. Activity at the sub sector level rose across the board in December. Residential expanded by four points to 56, while non-residential increased by the same margin to 52, returning to positive territory. Finally, the civil engineering (42) index increased by six points but remained entrenched in negative territory for the fourth consecutive month. At 68 points, the orders index improved again, with a month-on-month increase of two points. Tender enquiries rose by seven points in December to their highest level since October 2014. The percentage of respondents reporting no constraints to construction activity decreased after two successive monthly increases. It had fallen to 18.3%, down from 37% in the previous month; its smallest percentage since March 2013. Concerns about bad weather contributed to this decrease, as 12.2% of respondents mentioned this as an issue, up from 7.4% a month earlier. Worries over insufficient demand fell from 33.3% in November to 32.9% in the following month. Material / equipment shortages at 3.7 % were reported as an issue for the first time in three months. Finances woes were flagged by 12.2%, the highest proportion since May 2015. Labour shortages (11%) increased marginally from the month before while other factors witnessed their highest response in 2015 at 9.8%. The employment prospects index ticked upwards in December, at 53 points it rose slightly above its 12-month average of 51. This is the first time since July the index has been in positive territory.