Office work uplift returns construction output to growth

Construction output returned to 1.7% growth in March after sliding during the storms in February, helped by private housing repair and maintenance and new commercial work.
It is the first time private commercial work has emerged as a growth driver since the pandemic, recording a 4% rise in March.
Private housing repair and maintenance also saw strong growth up nearly 6%.Together these sectors drove a 1% rise in new work and a 3% uplift in both repair and maintenance.
Across the first quarter (Ja