Buyers report fastest fall in new orders since Covid

Construction buyers reported a marginal increase in total business activity during August, but confidence was spooked by new orders falling at the fastest pace since May 2020.
The bellwether S&P Global / CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index posted 50.8 in August – down from 51.7 in July – but still in positive territory in the sentiment index.
Growth in the commercial and civil engineering segments helped to offset a slump in house building.
However, business act