Bleak January for construction buyers

Construction buyers reported a downturn in output in January halting a 10-month run of industry expansion.
The bellwether S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 48.1 in January from 53.3 in December.
It was the first time the index registered below the 50.0 no-change threshold since February 2024.Contractors blamed the fall on delayed decision-making by clients on major projects and general economic uncertainty weighing down business activity at the start o